During the donor / research rotation, the fellow is given the opportunity to engage in either clinical/translational or basic science research, typically under the direct mentorship of one of the transplant surgeons. The transplant surgeons offer a broad range of research expertise in transplantation (see faculty profiles) extending from basic immunology and ischemia/reperfusion research through the design of clinical trials and outcomes research using registry data. Care is taken to assess the fellow's interests and previous research experience to best advise him/her regarding the optimal project to undertake such that this time period will be productive.
Histopathology: Interpretation of Allograft Biopsies
The UCSF transplant nephrologists perform all kidney allograft biopsies (approximately 200 annually). Similarly, the UCSF transplant hepatologists perform all liver allograft biopsies for inpatients (approximately 60-75 annually). Additional allograft biopsies from UCSF transplant recipients performed outside of UCSF are typically sent over for histopathologic review. Finally, the UCSF transplant surgeons perform all pancreas allograft biopsies (6-8 annually). On each clinical service, allograft biopsies are reviewed daily as a team with the transplant pathology fellow and attending.
Immunogenetics and Histocompatibility
All fellows are required to attend a full day course on histocompatibility given annually by the Director and staff of the Immunogenetics Laboratory. The course covers the theory and the practice of HLA typing, crossmatching, and work-up of alloantibodies. While on the Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Service, issues regarding histocompatibility and crossmatching are frequently discussed in the context of patient care.