In March, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) launched a new policy for matching kidney transplant candidates with organs from deceased donors. Donated kidneys are now offered first to candidates listed at transplant hospitals within 250 nautical miles of the donor hospital. A kidney that is not accepted for any of these candidates will then be offered to candidates beyond the 250 nautical mile distance.
Baylor Scott & White Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant Institute is a leader in the field of transplant in numerous areas. Today, they are responsible for one more: Baylor Scott & White Health has the largest team of female abdominal transplant surgeons in the United States.
Caring for family members with dementia and other forms of Alzheimer’s disease is a difficult task, and it is common for caregivers to feel overwhelmed due to the physical and emotional demands of the role. Researchers at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute’s (BSWRI) Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR) are engaged in groundbreaking studies to understand how to improve the quality of life for these caregivers. This work has taken on even greater implications now as COVID-19 creates greater isolation for caregivers making their role even more challenging.
Baylor Scott & White Research Institute was recently selected as one of only seven sites in the nation to participate in the landmark feasibility study of the Carmat Total Artificial Heart (TAH) for transplant-eligible patients in severe, end-stage heart failure. It is also the only site to offer the FDA-approved TAH in the region.
Concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy, known as chemoradiation, is a common treatment for locally advanced cancers. Adding concurrent chemotherapy can improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy but can also enhance the appearance of toxic side effects. This means that some cancer patients, especially those with comorbidities or poor health status, are ineligible for concurrent chemoradiation. Researchers at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute (BSWRI) are contributing to critical clinical trials to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer patients, including those who are not eligible for concurrent chemoradiation.
