Medical follow-up by program staff continues into adulthood. The patient is returned to the referring physician for routine care. Research Applications Program research consists of clinical studies conducted in collaboration with the Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation and with other pediatric subspecialists. The major research interest of faculty is immunosuppression in children. UCLA pioneered the first clinical trials for tacrolimus, a new drug option.
Current research continues to actively investigate all aspects of tacrolimus.
Additionally, program faculty are engaged in clinical trials of a new form of cyclosporine called neoral. Any child suspected of needing a liver transplant may be referred to the Dumont-UCLA Pediatric Liver Transplant Program. Early referrals are encouraged.