Development and profile

Transplantation medicine has been a profiling segment within the clinical and experimental activities of the Hannover Medical School for more than three decades. In 1968, the first kidney, in 1972 the first liver was transplanted clinically. At present, more than 350 organ transplant procedures are performed anually (Fig. 3). For many years, the MHH contributed significantly towards clinical progress and success in organ transplantation. A successful program for combined heart-lung, single lung, and double lung as well as combined heart-lung-liver, lung-liver and -kidney transplantation was established, which is unique in Germany and recognized internationally.

The co-operative and interdisciplinary approach in patient care, involving surgical, pneumological and pediatric units, both before and after LTx, has served as a model for many other centers. After discharge, patient follow-up is performed in specialized outpatient facilities, again involving all clinical specialties, including the Institute of Psychosomatics. Within the spectrum of new developments in LTx at MHH, indications of lung transplantation for new underlying diseases, improved methods of pulmonary preservation, as well as the clinical introduction of new immunosuppressive drugs and optimized pharmacological protocols (polyclonal antilymphocyte globulins, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, humanized monoclonal antibodies, metabolism and monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs) have to be mentioned. Experimental research has covered the entire spectrum, from preclinical animal studies towards microsurgical models and basic science in the fields of cellular immunology and immunogenetics. Further foci within transplantation research have been transplantation in children and xenotransplantation.

Politically, the importance of transplantation medicine at MHH has been recognized and has resulted in the construction of the transplantation research center (TPFZ). Here, next to clinical activities, approximately 1,400 m² of research laboratories are established for transplantation research (clinical and experimental). Within this building, laboratories will be provided, for this research group. Since cell-based therapies and in vitro regenerated tissue may represent ways for future treatment of severe organ damage, the MHH has placed tissue engineering as a profiling cross-sectional priority within its research (Fig. 4).