Center Information
Director's Welcome - Dr. Ruisheng Liu
Our mission at UTRC is to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to expand donor pools by reducing graft injury, prolonging preservation time, and improving long-term transplant outcomes.
I cordially invite you to browse our website and join us in supporting research and innovation at the UTRC.
Sincerely,
Ruisheng Liu, MD, PhD, FAHA, FASN
Professor of Physiology and Medicine
Director, UTRC
Transplant Research
The UTRC is committed to addressing the critical organ shortage crisis, with nearly 100,000 patients in the U.S. awaiting life-saving transplants, yet fewer than 50% expected to receive an organ each year. Despite advances in medicine and increased awareness of organ donation, the gap between organ supply and demand continues to grow, underscoring the urgent need for new strategies to expand the donor pool.
Our center focuses on developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to reduce graft injury, extend preservation time, and enhance long-term transplant outcomes. We aim to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians to elucidate the mechanisms behind organ damage before and after transplantation, as well as interactions between different organs. Initially, our research will target kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas transplants, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and expanding transplant availability.
Our research will further explore organ-specific pathways where new therapeutic approaches or drug interventions could reduce injury in both rodent and preclinical large animal models. As we refine our experimental techniques, we expect to uncover deeper insights into the pathological processes of organ dysfunction, ultimately improving transplant success and patient survival. Through this work, the UTRC aims to become a leader in expanding the donor pool and improving outcomes for transplant recipients worldwide.
The center features a Rodent Transplant Core and a Large Animal Transplant Core, both led and coordinated by Dr. Lei Wang.
Transplant Cores
Rodent Transplant Core
Drs. Lei Wang and Qiang Zeng, experienced surgeons in rodent organ transplantation, routinely perform kidney, heart, liver, and lung transplants in rats and mice.
Large Animal Transplant Core
Transplantations in large animals are conducted at the USF Large Animal Facility at CAMLS by surgeons from TGH and the USF Department of Surgery. Currently, kidney, heart, and liver transplants are routinely performed in adult Yorkshire pigs.
Contact Us
Nohely Hernandez Soto
nohelyh@usf.edu
Unit Research Administrator
USF Health Transplant Research Center (UTRC)
USF Health
University of South Florida
Location
USF Health Transplant Research Center
560 Channelside Drive
MDD 842 - 8th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
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- Bassil, Claude, MD, FACP, FASN - Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, Renal Coordinator, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
- Cai, Jianfeng, PhD - Preeminent and Distinguished Professor, Julie Harmon Endowed Chair in Chemistry
- Dhanireddy, Kiran, MD - Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Liver Transplant Surgery, Vice President & Chief of TGH Transplant Institute, surgical director of the Center for Advanced Liver Disease and Transplant and the TGH Transplant Institute
- Ganesh, Halade, PhD - Associate Professor, College of Medicine Internal Medicine
- Jackson, Travis, PhD - Associate Professor, MPP
- Kemmer, Nyingi, MD - Professor, Medical Director, Liver Transplant Program, USF/TGH
- Liggett, Stephen B., MD - Vice Dean for Research, Morsani College of Medicine, Sr. Associate Vice President for Research, USF Health, Professor Departments of Internal Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, and Medical Engineering
- Lozonschi, Lucian, MD - Professor and Chief of Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgeries, USF/TGH
- Mackie, Benjamin, MD - Medical Director, Heart Transplant Program, TGH
- Majetschak, Matthias, MD, PhD - Professor, College of Medicine Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Professor, College of Medicine Surgery
- Ruisheng Liu, MD, PhD - Professor of Physiology and Medicine Director, UTRC
- Sharp, Thomas, PhD - Assistant Professor, MPP
- Starushchenko, Alexander, PhD - Professor, MPP
- Subramanian, Vijay, MD: Liver Transplant Surgery
- Wang, Lei, PhD - Assistant Professor, Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology
- Wang, Lianchun, MD - Professor, MPP
- Watkins, Anthony, MD - Surgical Director, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program, TGH
- Yuan, Sarah, MD, PhD - Endowed Chair, College of Medicine Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology