Dr. Shaf Keshavjee (UHN) - SQI & Lung Bioengineering (LBE) The space these three share is valuable to all. They all help oneanother to maximize volume and efficiency. More organs made available, more lives & more revenues.
LBE is the only centralized EVLP provider in the USA and uses CLES with support from UHN, with enrollment in trial recently completed. There is an identified market here that will be fulfilled using UHN's protocols. SQI is part of that protocol evolution. SQI's Point of Care device that the tests run on will allow participating transplant programs at hospitals throughout the USA to test the Lungs on site for assessment. Some will go directly to transplant at that facility, while most will be sent to LB for EVLP and further evaluation/refurbishment. All of this remains abstract to many, but the market opportunity here is very significant. This should be made well known among many rather that just those within intimate range.
Shaf speaks about some of his work below. He has attracted partners along the way and has the support of many, including government.
Dr. Shaf Keshavjee is a world-renowned thoracic surgeon-scientist with a history of breakthroughs and discoveries in lung transplantation. He is the current Surgeon-in-Chief of the Sprott Department of Surgery, the Director of the Toronto Lung Transplant Program and Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories at UHN, and Professor of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Keshavjee completed his medical training at the University of Toronto in 1985, and specialized in General Surgery, Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. He participated in the world’s first successful double lung transplant at Toronto General Hospital in 1986. Dr. Keshavjee completed fellowships at Harvard University and the University of London. During his Master’s studies, Dr. Keshavjee developed a lung preservation solution for donor lungs that has now been translated into clinical use around the world. Since then, he has led the development and translation of many innovations to the clinic, including the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system.
For Dr. Keshavjee’s achievements and leadership in the field, he has been appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honour that recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Furthermore, he is a member of the Order of Ontario and has been awarded two Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals. In 2020, he received the prestigious Governor General of Canada’s Innovation Award. Other notable recognitions include UHN's Inventor of the Year Award, Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Society of Transplantation.
My lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of lung preservation, injury and repair. We developed the Toronto Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) system, which has transformed how the world performs lung transplantation. During EVLP, donor lungs are placed in a sterile and protective dome outside of the body (“ex vivo”) and supplied oxygen, nutrients and other critical components that enable the lung to breathe on its own. During the six hours that a lung can remain physiologically active on EVLP, surgeons can fully assess physiologic quality and make a more informed and objective decision on whether to utilize the lung for transplant. Importantly, the hours during which lungs are on EVLP have also enabled a critical time window in which the team can apply novel, isolated therapies to repair injured donor lungs prior to transplant. To this extent, we are currently developing a number of precision diagnostics and novel repair therapies, including gene therapy and CRISPR-Cas9 applications, that will maximize the potential of EVLP in the transplant clinic.
Given the powerful organizations and individuals here, along those who possess significant resources involved in this program, and all the knowledge they have, knowing the impact these products (TOR-Dx & Rali tests) will make, one must believe that the incentives to ensure best outcomes for all are well realized.
Greater Good.....