AU researcher receives DKK 10 million from the Lundbeck Foundation towards stem cell research for kidney transplantation

Each year, approximately 220 patients receive a kidney transplantation in Denmark. There are many people on the waiting list for a new kidney and a great need for kidney donations. The majority of patients receive a kidney from a deceased donor, and more than a third of these patients find that the kidney does not function straight away. This can lead to a need for dialysis and an increased risk of the body rejecting the kidney. Bente Jespersen conducts research into how the function and longevity of a transplanted kidney from a deceased donor can be improved. Her research project has just been awarded DKK 10 million from the Lundbeck Foundation in the form of a health science adjustable grant.

"I am very pleased that the Lundbeck Foundation has recognised the need for more research in this area. The grant provides the opportunity for us to make use of pigs as experimental models and to cultivate, develop and add stem cells in connection with kidney transplants. We need to clarify the effects and the side effects of using stem cells, and to better understand how they can best contribute to ensuring that the body can repair itself. In the long term, this can make a big difference for kidney patients," says Bente Jespersen.

The research is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital and researchers from Rotterdam and Oxford.

"This project can have important clinical significance for patients receiving a kidney donation. The project combines techniques in a new and optimised manner and it has strong international partners," says Anne-Marie Engel, head of research at the Lundbeck Foundation, on the choice of Bente Jespersen as one of the recipients of a total of twelve health science adjustable grants. 

Stem cells should heal the "bad" kidneys

At present, using kidneys from high-risk donors for transplantations is problematic, as the patient often develops renal failure. High-risk donors are for example older people or people who have had low blood pressure after cardiac arrest. Kidneys from these donors are particularly sensitive to damage during storage and during transplantation.

"The increasing need for kidney donations means that kidneys from high-risk donors ought to be utilised. Stem cells can reduce the activation of the patient's immune system so that it does not attack the donated kidney. At the same time, stem cells will hopefully stimulate healing of the otherwise sensitive donated kidney," says Bente Jespersen.

The researchers add the stem cells while the donated kidney is soaked in a special machine before transplantation. This stage also allows them to assess whether the kidney can be used for transplantation.

"It is precisely the combination of two new methods, that is the use of stem cells and soaking in a machine in which the conditions can be controlled, which must be developed and tested on the pigs that receive kidney transplantations. It will be possible to clarify and improve many of the factors using the pigs as experimental models, before we can hopefully safely introduce the principles for the benefit of patients," explains Bente Jespersen.

Bente Jespersen hopes that the project can lead to an increase in the number of kidney transplants, a longer period of effective functioning for the kidneys, and the need for less immunosuppressant medication, as the stem cells can have both a healing and immunosuppressive effect.

Further information

Professor, Consultant Bente Jespersen
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Renal Medicine
bente.jespersen@clin.au.dk 
Direct tel.: (+45) 7845 2411 / (+45) 7845 2425