Transplantation and Immunology:

The central research theme explored in this axis is based around the mechanisms of acute and chronic damage of solid allogeneic graft and associated complications. This component of research is integrated in a group of interdisciplinary research on the characteristics of predictors of rejection. This group is being supported by the FRSQ and led by Dre Marie-Josée Hébert. The main goal of this group is to define genetic and biological markers of rejection and complications (e.g. cardiovascular disease) in transplant recipients.

Other objectives include:

1. to elucidate the determinants associated with immunosuppressive agents’ response;
2. to define psychological and ethical issues associated with transplantation. This research axis is also supported by the surgical laboratory research team of the CHUM, under the direction of Dr. H. Chen and Dr. S. Qi

The Montreal Renal Transplantation Biobank:

Renal transplant rejection, either acute of chronic, and the associated metabolic and cardiovascular complications, are the leading cause of graft loss and mortality associated with kidney transplantation. Immunosuppressive agents available can reduce the risk of rejection but are associated with long-term side effects (infectious complications, neoplastic and cardiovascular), which can reduce the life expectancy of transplant patients.

The purpose of this Biobank is to collect on a structured clinical data and biological samples (blood, urine, DNA, RNA / protein, kidney tissue graft in the recipient blood, tissue and spleen tissue graft pre -implantation in the donor) which will be used to characterize diagnostic and predictive markers:

1. Acute and chronic rejection of kidney transplants
2. complications and side effects of immunosuppressive agents in patients with renal transplant recipients.

The identification of these markers will help develop an approach of type ‘personalized medicine’ in transplantation. In the longer-term, we plan to use this database to assess the relevance of measuring different biomarkers (especially markers apoptosis of endothelial tubular epithelial damage, immune activation) in non-invasive diagnosis of acute rejection and chronic, and in the prediction and monitoring of these events. This could lead to a more appropriate management of immunosuppression in each patient. Moreover, current algorithms for stratifying cardiovascular risk (eg calculation of cumulative risk of event at 10 years based on the Framingham cohort) are performing poorly in kidney transplant patients. We would therefore like to evaluate the accuracy of predictive models in this new context, by including factors specific to transplantation, and new biomarkers

A secondary goal of this database is to allow the use of this information to examine issues of future research, as long as the researchers involved submit their research protocol to a scientific and ethics committee of research University of Montreal and obtain approval, and that these projects are approved by the Management Committee of the bank. If the project comes from researchers outside the University of Montreal Nephrology Research Consortium, it will also need to be supported by organizations using peer review by committee.

For more information on the Biobank click here.

Pharmacology, Physiology, and Signaling:

The central theme of research explored in this axis centers around the study of the physiological and pharmacological consequences of kidney failure and hereditary kidney disease. The research carried out around this theme is developed in an interdisciplinary manner and revolves around four main axes:

1. Pharmacology, kidney failure, and dialysis,
2. Pharmaco-epidemiology and pharmacology,
3. Intracellular trafficking and uremia,
4. Rare hereditary renal conditions.

Metabolic and Vascular Complications Associated with Kidney Disease:

The central research theme explored in this axis is focused on vascular disease in patients with kidney disease with regard to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Other themes include non-cardiovascular complications of uremia (e.g. anemia, bones disease, etc) and renal consequences of hypertension and diabetes. The research carried out around this theme is developed in an interdisciplinary manner and revolves around 4 main axes:

1. Determinants and biomarkers of vascular complications in uremia,
2. Population health and medication adherence,
3. Non-cardiovascular complications of uremia,
4. Kidney complications due to hypertension and diabetes.