About the Center for Transplantation Sciences

The Center for Transplantation Sciences (CTS) at Massachusetts General Hospital leads pioneering research to meet the growing demand for donor organs and improve outcomes for transplant recipients.

Why Our Work Matters

Every year in the U.S., thousands are added to organ transplant waiting lists, hoping for a second chance at life. For those with end-stage heart, kidney, liver, or lung disease, a transplant is often the only option. However, 18 patients die every day in the U.S. awaiting a donor organ. while scores of transplanted patients die yearly because of chronic rejection and the side effects of chronic immunosuppression. A better understanding of transplantation immunobiology is critical in developing new ways to prevent rejection, eliminating the need for lifelong immunosuppression, and finding alternative sources of organs. The CTS is committed to preventing the death of patients on transplant waiting lists and improving the lives of transplant recipients by deepening the understanding of immune responses, developing novel strategies for inducing immune tolerance, and exploring creative solutions to address the organ shortage crisis, such as xenotransplantation.

MGH: A History of Excellence in Transplantation

Mass General has made significant breakthroughs in transplanation over the years, from the world’s first known clinical use of a monoclonal antibody (OKT3) in transplantation to the world's first successful kidney xenotransplant into a living human. Explore a timeline of Mass General transplantation milestones (PDF) from 1980 through 2025.

The Leadership Team

• Joren C. Madsen, MD, DPhil, director
• Richard N. Pierson lll, MD, scientific director
• Shimul Shah, MD, clinical director
• David H. Sachs, MD, scientific advisor