Surgery

Abdominal Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery Fellowship Research

Research Overview

From studying immunosuppressive agents in the early 1990’s that revolutionized the field to normothermic machine perfusion clinical trials in the past few years, the UCLA Transplant Programs have been at the forefront of transplantation research for over 38 years. The program has extensive basic, translational and clinical science research activities with NIH, private funding and over 1500 publications to date. Our fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in ongoing projects or develop their own with mentorship during their training and are fully supported to present their work at national meetings.

Research 2

Research Focus Areas

  • Ischemia reperfusion injury
  • High acuity prognostication
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Heart- Liver transplantation
  • Multivisceral transplantation
  • Immunosuppression modulation 
  • Outcomes

Recent Fellow Presentations & Publications

  • Cholangiocarcinoma
    • Ito T, Butler JR, Noguchi D, Ha M, Aziz A, Agopian V, DiNorcia J, Yersiz H, Farmer DG, Busuttil RW, Hong JC, Kaldas FM. A 3-Decade, Single-Center Experience of Liver Transplantation for Cholangiocarcinoma: Impact of Era, Tumor Size, Location, and Neoadjuvant Therapy. Liver Transpl. 2022;28(3):386-396. doi:10.1002/lt.26285
  • Acute Liver Failure
    • Li J, Noguchi D, Ha M, Ito T, McMillan R, DiNorcia J, Agopian VG, Yersiz H, Farmer DG, Busuttil RW, Kaldas FM. Evolution of Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure: A Single Center Experience with 250 Patients in the Modern Era. WSA 2021 Annual Meeting: November 2021
    • McMillan R, Ito T, Aziz A, Amin A, Murray A, DiNorcia J, Agopian VG, Yersiz H, Farmer DG, Busuttil RW, Kaldas FM. Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure: A 16 Year Experience with 214 Patients in the Post-MELD Era. American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting: June 2019, Boston, MA
  • Alcoholic Hepatitis
    • Busuttil RW, DuBray BJ. Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis. Ann Surg. 2017;265(1):30-31.
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
    • Bodzin AS, Reino DC, Lunsford KE, Harlander-Locke M, et al. Predictors of Time to Recurrence and Mortality Associated With Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation. 2015 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
    • Bodzin AS, Busuttil RW. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances in Diagnosis, Management, and Long-Term Outcome. World J Hepatol. 2015;7(9):1157-1167.
    • Bodzin AS, Finn RS, Busuttil RW. Adjuvant Chemotherapy after Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2015;14(3):234-235.
  • Mixed Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma
    • Lunsford KE, Harlander-Locke M, Gornbein J, et al. Comparative Analysis of Patients with Mixed Hepatocellular-Cholangiocarcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation: A Single Center Matched Cohort Analysis. 2016 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Pediatric Liver Cancers
    • Cheng EY, Busuttil RW. Liver Transplantation for Pediatric Hepatoblastoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Out of the Unknown. JAMA Surg. 2015;150(12):1158-1159.
  • Esophageal Perforation
    • Seth R, Dubrovsky G, Busuttil RW, Cameron RB. Management of a Large Delayed Esophageal Perforation in a Fresh Liver Transplant Patient with Endoscopic Placement of a Nasopleural Drainage Tube—a Case Report. J Surg Case Rep. 2020;2020(9)
  • Peritransplant Pancreatitis
    • Russell TA, Park S, Agopian VG, et al. Peritransplant Pancreatitis: A Marker of High Mortality and Graft Failure in Liver Transplant Patients. Liver Transpl. 2017;23(7):925-932.
  • Reoperative Complications
    • DiNorcia J, Lee MK, Harlander-Locke M, et al. Reoperative Complications after Primary Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Contemporary Single-Center Experience in the Post-MELD Era. J Am Coll Surg. 2014;219(5):993-1000.
  • Graft Nonfunction
    • Shaik I, DiNorcia J, Cheng E, et al. Predictors of Graft Nonfunction Following Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Analysis of 1519 Consecutive Transplants. 2014 American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.
  • Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation (SLKT)
    • Lunsford KE, Bodzin AS, Markovic D, et al. Avoiding Futility in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation: Analysis of 331 Consecutive Patients Listed for Dual Organ Replacement. Ann Surg. 2017;265(5):1016-1024.
    • Lunsford KE, Bodzin AS, Reino DC, et al. Avoiding Futility in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation: Analysis of 331 Consecutively Listed Patients. 2015 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
    • Lunsford KE, Zarrinpar A, Kaldas FM, et al. Avoiding Futility in Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation: Analysis of 271 Consecutive Patients Listed for Dual Organ Transplantation. 2015 American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.
  • Combined Thoracic/Liver Transplant
    • Presser N, DiNorcia J, Agopian V, Yersiz H, Farmer D, Busuttil R, Kaldas F. Complex Combined Thoracic/Liver Transplant: A Seven-Year Experience. 2018 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Cardiac Surgery and Liver Transplantation
    • McMillan R, Amin A, DiNorcia J, Agopian VG, Yersiz H, Farmer D, Busuttil R, Kaldas FM. A Single Center Experience Reporting Outcomes of Perioperative Cardiac Surgery and Liver Transplantation in High-Acuity Recipients. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Meeting: 2018
  • Outcomes and Complications
    • Amin A, Farmer DG. Current Outcomes after Pediatric and Adult Intestinal Transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2019;24(2):193-198.
    • DuBray BJ, Dumronggittigule W, Cheng CY, et al. Enterostomy after Intestinal Transplantation: The First Report of Complications and Outcome. Transplantation. 2017;101(6S2)
    • Cheng EY, DuBray BJ, Farmer DG. The Impact of Antibodies and Virtual Crossmatching on Intestinal Transplant Outcomes. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2017;22(2):149-154.
  • Pregnancy Post-Transplant
    • Marcus EA, Wozniak LJ, Venick RS, Ponthieux SM, Cheng EY, Farmer DG. Successful Term Pregnancy in an Intestine-Pancreas Transplant Recipient with Chronic Graft Dysfunction and Parenteral Nutrition Dependence: A Case Report. Transplant Proc. 2015;47(3):863-867.
  • Educational Chapters
    • DuBray BJ, Farmer DG. Small Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation. In: Ashley SW, ed. Scientific American Surgery. Decker; 2016.
  • Increased Risk Donors
    • Amin A, Ito T, Ng D, McMillan R, DiNorcia J, Agopian V, Kaldas F, Yersiz H, Busuttil R, Farmer D. Analysis of Public Health Service Increased Risk Donors Shows No Viral Transmission in Liver Transplant Recipients and Similar Graft/Patient Survival Compared to Non-Increased Risk Donors. American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting: 2019
  • Extended Criteria Donors
    • Busuttil RW, DiNorcia J, Kaldas FM. Extended Criteria Donors. In: Busuttil RW, Klintmalm GBG, eds. Transplantation of the Liver. 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015:547-556.
  • Graft Utilization Predictors
    • Zarrinpar A, Lee C, Noguchi E, Cheng E, DiNorcia J, Shaik I, Agopian V, Yersiz H, Kaldas F, Farmer D, Busuttil R. A Rapid, Reproducible, Non-Invasive Predictor of Liver Graft Utilization. 2014 American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.
  • Personalized Immunosuppression
    • Zarrinpar A, Lee DK, Silva A, et al. Individualizing Liver Transplant Immunosuppression Using a Phenotypic Personalized Medicine Platform. Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(333):333ra49.
  • Treatment of Rejection
    • Shaik I, Carmody IC, Chen PW. Treatment of Acute and Chronic Rejection. In: Busuttil RW, Klintmalm GBG, eds. Transplantation of the Liver. 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015:1317-1328.
  • Impact of Antibodies on Transplant Outcomes
    • Cheng EY, DuBray BJ, Farmer DG. The Impact of Antibodies and Virtual Crossmatching on Intestinal Transplant Outcomes. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2017;22(2):149-154.
  • Damage Control Strategies
    • DiNorcia J, Lee MK, Harlander-Locke MP, et al. Damage Control as a Strategy to Manage Postreperfusion Hemodynamic Instability and Coagulopathy in Liver Transplant. JAMA Surg. 2015;150(11):1066-1072.
  • Quantification of Hepatic Function
    • DuBray BJ, Zarrinpar A. Quantification of Hepatic Functional Capacity: A Call for Standardization. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;10(1):9-11.
  • BRTO for Hepatic Encephalopathy
    • Presser N, DiNorcia J, Agopian V, Yersiz H, Farmer D, Busuttil R, Kaldas F. Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration (BRTO) for the Treatment of Medically Refractory Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients with ESLD and Significant Portal-Venous Shunting. 2018 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Prediction of Futility
    • Cheng E, Agopian A, Petrowsky H, et al. Prediction of Futility Following Liver Transplantation: A Blinded, Prospective Comparison of Risk-Scoring Systems. 2014 American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.
  • Predictors of Graft Nonfunction
    • Shaik I, DiNorcia J, Cheng E, et al. Predictors of Graft Nonfunction Following Orthotopic Liver Transplantation. 2014 American Society of Transplant Surgeons Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium.
  • Predictors of HCC Recurrence
    • Bodzin AS, Reino DC, Lunsford KE, Harlander-Locke M, et al. Predictors of Time to Recurrence and Mortality Associated with Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation. 2015 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Acute Renal Replacement Therapy in Pediatric Liver Transplantation
    • Wong M, Venick R, Agopian V, et al. Acute Renal Replacement Therapy in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Predictor of Increased Risk. 2017 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Cannabis Use
    • Lee J, Valadez M, Moreno E, Markovic D, Agopian V, DiNorcia J, Yersiz H, Farmer D, Busuttil R, Kaldas F. Cannabis Use in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience. 2018 American Transplant Congress Annual Meeting.
  • Garcinia Cambogia-Induced Liver Failure
    • Lunsford KE, Bodzin AS, Reino DC, Wang HL, Busuttil RW. Dangerous Dietary Supplements: Garcinia Cambogia–Associated Hepatic Failure Requiring Transplantation. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(45):10071-10076.
  • Obese Patients
    • Reino DC, Weigle KE, Dutson EP, Bodzin AS, Lunsford KE, Busuttil RW. Liver Transplantation and Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Medically Complicated Obese: New Challenges on the Horizon. World J Hepatol. 2015;7(21):2315-2318.
  • Patients with Aspergillus Colonization
    • Amin A, Molina A, Quach L, Ito T, McMillan R, DiNorcia J, Agopian VG, Kaldas FM, Farmer DG, Busuttil RW, Winston DJ. Liver Transplantation in Patients with Pretransplant Aspergillus Colonization: Is It Safe to Proceed? Transplantation. 2020; Online ahead of print.
  • COVID-19 Infection Post-Transplant
    • Li J, Yan P, Ha M, Shover CM, Fulcher J, DiNorcia J, Agopian VA, Farmer DG, Barjaktarevic I, Kaldas FM. COVID-19 Infection Post Orthotopic Liver Transplantation—The Largest Single Center U.S. Experience. WSA 2021 Annual Meeting: November 2021

Successful Term Pregnancy in Intestine-Pancreas Transplant Recipient

  • Marcus EA, Wozniak LJ, Venick RS, Ponthieux SM, Cheng EY, Farmer DG. Successful Term Pregnancy in an Intestine-Pancreas Transplant Recipient with Chronic Graft Dysfunction and Parenteral Nutrition Dependence: A Case Report. Transplant Proc. 2015;47(3):863-867.
  • Historical Review
    • DuBray BJ, Busuttil RW. Historical Review of Solid Organ Transplantation. In: Nadig SN, Wertheim JA, eds. Technological Advances in Whole Organ Transplantation. Springer; 2017:1-20.
  • Review on Hepatocellular Carcinoma
    • Bodzin AS, Busuttil RW. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances in Diagnosis, Management, and Long-Term Outcome. World J Hepatol. 2015;7(9):1157-1167.
  • Small Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation
    • DuBray BJ, Farmer DG. Small Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation. In: Ashley SW, ed. Scientific American Surgery. Decker; 2016.
  • Extended Criteria Donors
    • Busuttil RW, DiNorcia J, Kaldas FM. Extended Criteria Donors. In: Busuttil RW, Klintmalm GBG, eds. Transplantation of the Liver. 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015:547-556.
  • Treatment of Rejection
    • Shaik I, Carmody IC, Chen PW. Treatment of Acute and Chronic Rejection. In: Busuttil RW, Klintmalm GBG, eds. Transplantation of the Liver. 3rd ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2015:1317-1328.
  • Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis
    • Busuttil RW, DuBray BJ. Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Hepatitis. Ann Surg. 2017;265(1):30-31.
  • Technical Considerations in Liver Transplantation
    • Horwitz JK, Kaldas FM. CAQ Corner: Technical Considerations in Liver Transplantation (101 for Hepatologists). Liver Transpl. 2022. doi:10.1002/lt.26556