TY - JOUR T1 - 2021 Midwest Clinical and Translational Research Meeting of CSCTR and MWAFMR JF - Journal of Investigative Medicine JO - J Investig Med SP - 1069 LP - 1141 DO - 10.1136/jim-2021-MW VL - 69 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2021/06/01 UR - http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/69/5/1069.abstract N2 - 66 Development of sustainable ex-vivo normothermic liver perfusion platform for research purposesVikranth R MirleRyan PiechThe University of Chicago Introduction/Background Ex vivo perfusion (EVP) has continued to emerge as a viable alternative to cold storage (CS) for transplant organs, particularly livers, given EVP’s demonstrated ability to improve marginal organ quality. This usage of marginal donor organs would significantly expand the donor pool and help decrease the burden of transplant organ shortage. Ex vivo perfusion of pre-transplant organs creates a window of time where an organ at near physiologic conditions may be pharmacologically or immunologically manipulated with minimal effect on the graft recipient due to washout of the agents prior to transplant. This ability has been used to date in resuscitating organs, improving steatosis, and has potential in reducing graft rejection rates and necessity for life-long recipient immunosuppression. However, a significant hurdle in development of novel protocols using EVP has been the single-use cost per organ using commercially available platforms (£4000-£7000 ($5700-$9800) per use for OrganOx metra device). In this project, we develop a low-cost reusable liver perfusion platform indicated for research purposes to develop protocols for organ resuscitation and conditioning. Objective(s) The objective of this project is to establish a research platform for ex-vivo perfusion of livers that maintains near-physiological parameters that allows for pharmacological or immunological manipulation while maximizing reusability and efficiency. Methods A normothermic ex-vivo perfusion circuit was assembled with single-use items of RotaFlow pump head ($500), cardiotomy reservoir with oxygenator ($450), and discarded unused ECMO tubing kit ($500). Reusable items including a Centrimag pump and heater/cooler were borrowed from the Department of Perioperative Services at the University of Chicago. Initial perfusions were completed on donor after cardiac death (DCD) pig livers and subsequent perfusions were performed on human livers declined by all regional transplant centers and obtained through Gift of Hope, IL. Perfusions were completed for 6 … ER -