Australia’s first liver cell transplant has been performed by doctors from The Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute in Melbourne.
8-year-old Rama who has a metabolic liver disease became Australia’s first liver cell transplant recipient last week. Healthy human liver cells, harvested from a donor liver, were transfused into Rama’s diseased liver to improve her liver function.
The radical new technique, which may be used in both children and adults, is simple and safe. It also avoids the risk of major surgery with whole liver transplant. Liver cells, which are infused into the portal vein, are distributed through the liver by its own blood vessels.
Dr Winita Hardikar, head of hepatology at the Royal Children’s Hospital, says ‘Rama has no surgical incisions and was eating and drinking within half an hour of the transplant.’
Dr Katie Allen, who established Australia’s first liver cell bank at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, says ‘This is a perfect example of bench to bedside research.’
The liver cell bank project began more than 5 years ago with funding from Rotary Clubs around Melbourne, led by Rotary Footscray. Rotary has contributed more than $250,000.
Scientists worked initially on liver cell harvesting and storage with the ultimate aim of transplantation.
‘The vision has now become a reality as a result of intense collaboration between the scientists and the treating doctors,’ Dr Allen says. ‘We hope we can eventually supply hospitals around Australia with healthy liver cells’.
Currently a child with a severely diseased liver will die unless a donor organ becomes available, and Victoria has one of the lowest liver donor rates in Australia. In the future many patients may be treated using cells from just one donor liver, helping to alleviate the critical shortage of donors.
Currently, this procedure is not suitable for patients with cirrhosis.
| What: | Australia’s first liver cell transplant |
| Media photo opportunity: | 8-year-old patient Rama, Dr Katie Allen, Dr Winita Hardikar available for interview |
| When: | 12.30pm Tuesday 7 December |
| Where: | Board Room Level 5 Front Entry Building Royal Children’s Hospital Flemington Road Parkville Victoria |
Media enquiries
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Julie Webber (RCH) 03-9345-5522 and page or 0407 327 418
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Narelle Curtis (MCRI) 03-8341-6249 or 0417-330-897