Biological rejection is the undoing of many organ transplants, and successful procedures often are those in which there is a biologic match, as when the recipient and donor are related. Two researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine are working on a new technique that may improve transplant successes involving non-family donors. The technique involves a novel bone marrow transplant procedure developed by Clint Lothrop, a professor in the Scott-Ritchey Research Center, who serves as mentor to Welch.
Resistance is altered by subjecting the recipient animal to non-lethal, low doses of radiation.
Even in this early stage, the research is showing signs of success. A recipient dog has displayed no indication of rejecting the donor organ for more than two months, the scientists said.