The Centre for Transplant and Renal Research aims to improve the lives of patients with renal failure.

Our aim is to translate our research into clinical practice to provide better options for patients, slow progression of disease, and, where possible, to prevent renal disease and its complications.

Diseases we research

  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Renal bone disease
  • Cystic renal disease

Our research themes include:

There are two broad themes within the Centre: transplantation and renal research.  A major focus of the Transplant stream has been the development of cell based therapies for patients with type 1 diabetes.  With common links to the National Pancreas Transplant Unit at Westmead Hospital, our pioneering research has led to the development of Australia’s first successful Islet Transplant Program and the transition of clinical islet transplantation into the Australian Healthcare system.  We also study ways to prevent rejection after transplant and how to boost long term outcomes.

The second major focus of the group is renal research.  This research tries to understand the underlying processes of chronic kidney disease and to develop ways of slowing disease progression. One focus of this research is cystic renal disease, with preclinical and clinical research projects aimed at preventing kidney failure due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.