Dr Rajeev Desai – High risk organ donors: When is a risk worth taking?
Description
If a patient has had cancer, they are not eligible to donate organs, but this is changing thanks to the work of Dr Rajeev Desai, a Clinical Research Fellow in the School of Cancer Sciences. Sam talks to Rajeev about his research investigating the risk of cancer transmission from donors to their recipients. Rajeev explains 'We are trying to get the balance right by assessing donors who are traditionally counted as high risk. Can we include organs from such donors without resulting in significant cancer transmission?’. Rajeev’s work has shown that in some cases organs from people who have previously had cancer can be safely considered for donation. As a result of his study NHS Blood and Transplant has changed the national guidelines, which will mean a greater number of much-needed organs are available for those on transplant waiting lists. And Rajeev's research could have global impact if other countries follow suit. Transcript: http://tinyurl.com/ogdx3j7
United States
