ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers will present their latest oncology findings at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, scheduled to be held May 30–June 3 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The event, recognized as one of the largest gatherings in the field of cancer research, will feature 59 Mayo Clinic-authored abstracts highlighting advancements in cancer care.

Among the standout presentations are practice-changing studies focused on chemotherapy approaches, artificial intelligence (AI) applications in oncology, cancer care at home and new therapies for breast cancer and melanoma — all focused on improving treatment options for patients with cancer.

Highlights include:

Plenary Session: Randomized trial of standard chemotherapy alone or combined with atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy for patients with stage 3 deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer (Alliance A021502; ATOMIC)
Presentation time: Sunday, June 1, 1:05 to 1:17 p.m. CDT
Session title: Special Sessions
Presenter: Frank Sinicrope, M.D., medical oncologist and gastroenterologist

Clinical Science Symposium: Perception and concerns of the hematology and oncology (HemOnc) workforce about artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice (CliPr) and medical education (MedED)
Presentation time: Saturday, May 31, 2:03 to 2:15 p.m. CDT
Session title: The Future Is Now: Innovations in Medical Education
Presenter: Guilherme Sacchi de Camargo Correia, M.D., oncology fellow (senior author is Rami Manochakian, M.D., thoracic medical oncologist)

Oral Abstract Session: Tissue-free circulating tumor DNA assay and patient outcome in a phase 3 trial of FOLFOX-based adjuvant chemotherapy (Alliance N0147)
Presentation time: Friday, May 30, 3:57 to 4:09 p.m. CDT
Session title: Gastrointestinal Cancer — Colorectal and Anal
Presenter: Frank Sinicrope, M.D., medical oncologist and gastroenterologist

Oral Abstract Session: [212Pb]VMT-α-NET therapy in somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs): Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) observation participants after one-year follow-up and preliminary report for expansion participants.
Presentation time: Friday, May 30, 4:09 to 4:21 p.m. CDT
Session title: Developmental Therapeutics — Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology
Presenter: Thorvardur Halfdanarson, M.D., medical oncologist       

Oral Abstract Session: NeoACTIVATE arm C: Phase II trial of neoadjuvant atezolizumab and tiragolumab for high-risk operable stage 3 melanoma
Presentation time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 10:45 a.m. to 10:57 a.m. CDT
Session title: Melanoma/Skin Cancers
Presenter: Tina Hieken, M.D., breast and melanoma surgical oncologist

Poster Session: Cancer Care Beyond Walls (CCBW): A randomized pragmatic trial of home-based versus in-clinic cancer therapy administration
Session time: Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Care Delivery and Quality Care
Presenter: Roxana Dronca, M.D., medical oncologist and the site deputy director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida

Poster Session: A pilot single-arm, pragmatic trial in progress of in-home versus in-clinic subcutaneous nivolumab administration through Cancer Care Beyond Walls (CCBW) program (connected access and remote expertise)
Session time: Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session Title: Care Delivery/Models of Care
Presenter: Dina Elantably, M.B., B.CH., oncology fellow (senior author is Roxana Dronca, M.D., medical oncologist and the site deputy director of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida)

Poster Session: Initial results of MC200710 investigating therapeutic vaccine (PDS0101) alone or with pembrolizumab prior to surgery or radiation therapy for locally advanced HPV associated oropharyngeal carcinoma, a phase 2 window of opportunity trial
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Head and Neck Cancer
Presenter: David Routman, M.D., radiation oncologist

Poster Session: ALISertib in combination with endocrine therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2–) recurrent or metastatic breast cancer: The phase 2 ALISCA-Breast1 study
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Breast Cancer — Metastatic
Presenter: Tufia Haddad, M.D., medical oncologist

Poster Session: Estrogen receptor expression in residual breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Session time: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m. to noon CDT
Session title: Breast Cancer — Local/Regional/Adjuvant
Presenter: Sarah Premji, M.D., oncology fellow (senior author is Matthew Goetz, M.D., breast medical oncologist, and the Erivan K. Haub Family Professor of Cancer Research Honoring Richard F. Emslander, M.D.)

For more information about 2025 ASCO visit: https://www.asco.org/annual-meeting.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center 
Designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is defining the cancer center of the future, focused on delivering the world's most exceptional patient-centered cancer care for everyone. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a culture of innovation and collaboration is driving research breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention and treatment to change lives.

Media contact on-site at ASCO:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, 507-202-8655, luckstein.kelley@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic experts present key cancer research findings at ASCO appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic’s Business Development team, consistently recognized as one of the top commercialization operations among academic medical centers, is expanding its capabilities through a new initiative: the Mayo Venture Partner (MVP) program. In response to the dynamic and evolving healthcare landscape, Mayo Clinic is enlisting industry veterans to create groundbreaking technologies, co-invest in aligned companies and build new ventures from the ground up.

The MVP program brings together seasoned entrepreneurs, investors and executives who will leverage their expertise with Mayo Clinic’s world-class research and clinical expertise. These leaders will play a pivotal role in identifying high-potential opportunities across Mayo Clinic's research and clinical practices, forming new companies and accelerating innovations that advance patient care.

The inaugural MVPs are:

• Amy DuRoss — Healthcare innovation leader with deep expertise in policy, commercialization and diagnostics.
• Audrey Greenberg — Company builder, executive leader and expert in launching and scaling ventures across life sciences, healthcare and other industries.
• Brian Poger — Serial entrepreneur and venture strategist with a track record in digital health and healthcare services.

Working in close partnership with the Mayo Clinic Business Development team, the MVPs will help forge strategic collaborations and deliver real-world impact, underscoring Mayo Clinic's enduring commitment to transforming healthcare.

To date, the Business Development team has returned more than $1.2B in revenue to Mayo Clinic to support its clinical practice, education and research. Additionally, the team has helped create more than 180 companies, licensed 4,848 Mayo Clinic-created technologies through 2,913 agreements, and issued 4,159 patents.

This program and these efforts align with Mayo Clinic's vision to transform healthcare by:

• Accelerating innovation — Turning cutting-edge research, data and other resources into real-world solutions for patients. 
• Enhancing patient care — Bringing new treatments and technologies to patients that offer cures and the ability to connect with the healthcare system in ways that increase access and decrease costs. 
• Building strategic partnerships — Leveraging external expertise and resources to amplify impact.

Mayo Clinic is dedicated to driving progress and expanding its impact through innovation. This initiative is an exciting opportunity for investors, CEOs and innovators to collaborate with Mayo Clinic and be part of a future that prioritizes patient-centric, transformative healthcare solutions.

More about the MVPs:

Amy DuRoss

Amy is a Mayo Venture Partner focused on launching and scaling companies at the intersection of life sciences, software, and biopharma services. She has spent her career advancing therapies and technologies that improve patient outcomes and expand access to innovation. Amy was co-founder and CEO of Vineti, a pioneer in advanced therapy supply chain software, and held senior leadership roles at GE Ventures and Navigenics. She played a key role in creating California’s $8.5 billion stem cell initiative (Proposition 71) and served as chief of staff at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Amy serves on several boards across life sciences and biopharma services, is a Health Innovator Fellow at the Aspen Institute, and holds MBA and MA/BA degrees from Stanford University.

Get connected

Audrey Greenberg

Audrey is a Mayo Venture Partner with deep experience in biotech entrepreneurship and global platform development who has built and scaled companies at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Audrey co-founded the Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM), a global leader in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. Under her leadership, CBM raised $500 million, launched 350,000 square feet of GMP space, formed a $100 million joint venture with the University of Pennsylvania, and was acquired by SK pharmteco. She went on to lead commercial strategy for SK pharmteco’s 2,000-person global organization. Earlier in her career, Audrey was a private equity executive and investment banker managing over $90 billion in AUM. She is widely recognized for her leadership in life sciences and serves on public, private, and nonprofit boards. Audrey is a CPA and holds an MBA from Wharton.

Get connected

Brian Poger

Brian is a Mayo Venture Partner helping launch companies rooted in Mayo Clinic science. He has dedicated his career to improving patient outcomes and making healthcare more affordable. Brian was founding CEO of Senior Educators (now Alight Health Exchange) and Benefitter, a widely used benefits platform for small businesses. He held leadership roles at Aon, HealthMarkets, and UnitedHealthcare following the acquisitions of his startups. Most recently, he served as an executive in residence at Frazier Healthcare Partners. Brian began his career at Eli Lilly and McKinsey & Company. He holds an MBA with distinction from Kellogg and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, magna cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis.

Get connected

To learn more, visit the Mayo Clinic Business Development website and subscribe to its e-newsletter and follow the Mayo Clinic Ventures LinkedIn page.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post New Mayo Venture Partner (MVP) program announced to accelerate innovation appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Millions of people are affected by chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, an agonizing side effect of damaged salivary glands. While chemotherapy and radiation treatment for head and neck cancer are the most common causes of this, aging, certain medications and other factors, including diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and HIV/AIDS, can also cause chronic dry mouth. Currently, there is no cure for it.

Mayo Clinic researchers have established the world's first biobank of human salivary gland tissue-organoids that opens the door to research to find a cure.

"This unique biobank resource overcomes a major barrier we've faced in the field, namely: limited access to standardized salivary specimens suited for salivary gland regeneration research. This collection provides a foundation for regenerative therapy development, especially for radiation-induced chronic dry mouth," says Nagarajan Kannan, Ph.D., lead author of the study published in NPJ Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Kannan is also the director of the Mayo Clinic Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory.

Nearly 70% of patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiation therapy experience permanent damage to their salivary glands. People with this condition experience diminished quality of life from a constant feeling like cotton is lining their mouths. Besides being uncomfortable, chronic dry mouth can lead to difficulties with chewing, tasting, speaking and swallowing. It also can cause tooth decay.

"Chronic dry mouth can extend long after radiation treatments are complete. It's among the top concerns I hear from patients with head and neck cancer. Unfortunately, there aren't many therapeutics available commercially for these patients," says co-author Jeffrey Janus, M.D., an ear, nose and throat specialist at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

One promising avenue of research is the cultivation of rare regenerative cells to greater numbers that can help people someday heal and grow new, healthy salivary gland cells. The biobank consists of specimens collected from 208 donors. From this repository, researchers have already found biomarkers for mature, saliva-producing cells, and with the help of a high-resolution protein map, they have identified the potential tissue origin of rare, self-renewing salivary cells.

The research team also developed a radiation injury model, which paired with the biobank, provides an integrated platform to discover new, personalized regenerative biotherapeutics.

This is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Department of Otolaryngology.

Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding. 

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Kelley Luckstein, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic researchers develop first salivary gland regenerative biobank to combat chronic dry mouth appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A new discovery by Mayo Clinic researchers could mean more donor hearts are available for heart transplant, giving more people a second chance at life.

In findings published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, a team led by Mayo Clinic cardiac surgeon Paul Tang, M.D., Ph.D., identified a biological process that contributes to donor heart injury during cold storage. The researchers found that a drug already used to treat heart conditions can prevent this damage.

Heart transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage heart failure, yet fewer than half of donor hearts are ultimately used. One major reason is the relatively short window for transplanting a donated heart into a patient, due to concerns over low donor heart function that comes from leaving a heart in cold storage too long.  

Why donor hearts deteriorate in cold storage

Although cold storage slows metabolism and helps preserve tissue, prolonged exposure to cold storage conditions can lead to molecular changes that compromise how well the heart performs after transplant. One complication is called primary graft dysfunction, in which the transplanted heart cannot pump blood effectively after surgery. This may affect up to 20% of recipients to varying degrees.

To investigate why this damage occurs, the researchers focused on a protein inside heart cells called the mineralocorticoid receptor, which plays a role in how cells respond to stress. During cold storage, they found that this protein undergoes a process in which the protein clumps together in a way that harms the heart cells, called liquid-liquid phase separation. This process promotes cardiac damage from increased inflammation and cell death, making the heart less likely to function well after transplant.

Preventing damage with a common drug

To test whether the process could be prevented, the researchers treated donor hearts with a drug called canrenone, which blocks mineralocorticoid receptor activity. In human donor hearts stored beyond the typical timeframe, treatment with the drug nearly tripled their pumping strength compared to hearts stored without it. The hearts also showed better blood flow and fewer signs of cell injury. The findings suggest canrenone may help extend the safe storage period for donor hearts by improving the heart’s pumping strength to increase chances of a successful transplant.

"As a cardiovascular surgeon, I’ve personally experienced in the operating room how every additional hour of preservation can impact the likelihood of whether a donor heart can return to normal function after transplantation," Dr. Tang says. "This discovery may give us a new tool to preserve heart function for longer during storage, improve transplant outcomes and enhance patient access to lifesaving transplants."

The study's findings also have the potential to improve the preservation of other transplantable organs. Similar protein clustering was observed in donor kidneys, lungs and livers during cold storage. This suggests that the same strategy may help expand transplant options across multiple organ systems.

Mayo Clinic collaborated with the University of Michigan on this research. Review the study for a complete list of authors, disclosures and funding. 

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

Media contact:  

• Susan Murphy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post Mayo Clinic discovery could mean better access to more donor hearts and improved transplant outcomes appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Peter Lee, Ph.D., president of Microsoft Research, was elected today to the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees. Dr. Lee oversees Microsoft Research's 13 global laboratories, driving advancements in artificial intelligence, computer science, health and life sciences while fostering the development of research-driven products that expand human knowledge.

"Dr. Lee is a values-driven leader recognized for his excellence in technological innovation, particularly in healthcare," says Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "With his deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning and data science, he will offer valuable insights to our Board of Trustees as we continue to transform healthcare for the benefit of patients worldwide."

Before joining Microsoft in 2010, Dr. Lee established a new technology office at the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) called the Transformational Convergence Technology Office, which created operational capabilities in machine learning, data science and computational social science. Prior to that, he was the department head and a professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Lee is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the boards of several institutions, including the boards of directors of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine. In 2024, TIME magazine named Dr. Lee one of the 100 most influential people in health and life sciences.

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About the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees 
The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, a 32-member group of public representatives and Mayo Clinic physicians and administrators, is responsible for patient care, medical education and research at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, as well as Mayo Clinic Health System, a network of clinics and hospitals serving communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Media contact: 

• Andrea Kalmanovitz, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post Peter Lee, Ph.D., president of Microsoft Research, elected to Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

GENOLIER, Switzerland and ROCHESTER, Minn. — Swiss Medical Network and Mayo Clinic are proud to announce that seven clinics and centres of Swiss Medical Network have joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network, becoming the first healthcare provider in Western Europe to enter the collaboration. The agreement includes Clinique de Genolier in Genolier, Privatklinik Bethanien in Zurich, Clinica Sant’Anna in Lugano and Swiss Visio centres in Genolier, Montchoisi, Zurich and Bellinzona.

The Mayo Clinic Care Network is a select group of more than 45 medical institutions worldwide that collaborate with Mayo Clinic to advance excellence in patient care. As part of Mayo Clinic Care Network, Swiss Medical Network will leverage Mayo Clinic's globally recognized expertise, advanced medical knowledge and best practices to further elevate healthcare in Switzerland. The collaboration aims to support the development of preventive care programs — including executive health and check-ups — enhance knowledge sharing in ophthalmology research, and advance nursing education.

For patients, the collaboration means advanced diagnoses and care services, specific executive health and check-up programmes, and access to international experts from the Mayo Clinic Care Network without traveling abroad. Complex cancer cases can be presented to Mayo Clinic's multidisciplinary specialists.

"We are pleased to welcome Swiss Medical Network to the Mayo Clinic Care Network," said Eric J. Moore, M.D., head and neck surgical oncologist and medical director, Mayo Clinic International. "Our collaboration is built on shared values and a commitment to patient-centered care. We look forward to collaborating and innovating to deliver even better outcomes for patients across Switzerland."

Physicians from Clinique de Genolier, Privatklinik Bethanien, Clinica Sant’Anna, and the above-mentioned Swiss Visio entities, will have direct access to a suite of advanced clinical resources through the Mayo Clinic Care Network, including:

• AskMayoExpert – A point-of-care tool providing clinical information on hundreds of medical conditions, including treatment recommendations and best practices.
• eBoards – Live video conferences where Swiss Medical Network's medical teams can consult directly with Mayo Clinic's multidisciplinary specialists on complex cases.
• Healthcare consulting – Exclusive access to Mayo Clinic's expertise in clinical, operational and business strategies to support Swiss Medical Network's continued growth and excellence.

In addition, medical professionals from the newly affiliated entities will benefit from Mayo Clinic's extensive scientific library, patient education materials and continuous medical education programs, ensuring the highest standards of care for all patients.

Dino Cauzza, CEO of Swiss Medical Network, emphasized the significance of this relationship:

"As a member of Mayo Clinic Care Network, this collaboration is a defining milestone for Swiss Medical Network and, most importantly, for our patients. By integrating Mayo Clinic's expertise into our network, we will accelerate the development of our executive health and check-up programs as a key element of preventive health in our vision of integrated care. This is a defining moment in our journey toward medical excellence."

Swiss Medical Network will remain independent while joining a global ecosystem of medical innovation and shared knowledge. Established in 2011, the Mayo Clinic Care Network now includes over 45 leading healthcare organizations across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, India, and Mexico.

For more information, please visit www.swissmedical.net and www.mayoclinic.org.

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About Swiss Medical Network
Swiss Medical Network is one of Switzerland's two leading private hospital and clinic groups. With 21 clinics and hospitals, over 70 outpatient centers, 5,000 employees and more than 2,300 doctors practicing in 15 cantons, the group covers the entire medical spectrum, operates listed and contracted hospitals, and cares for more than 1.2 million patients a year.  

A pioneer in integrated care with the VIVA project, the Réseau de l'Arc has become the leading integrated care organization in Switzerland, now accessible to a large proportion of the population of the Jura Arc. At the beginning of 2025, the launch of VIVA in Ticino and Rete Sant'Anna extended this model, reinforcing the Group's commitment to integrated care accessible to all in Switzerland.

Swiss Medical Network is a 77%-owned subsidiary of AEVIS VICTORIA SA, listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Visit Swiss Medical Network for additional information.

About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contacts:

• Magali Dauwalder, Swiss Medical Network, +41 79 486 34 14, media@swissmedical.net
• Elizabeth Baxter, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Swiss Medical Network joins the Mayo Clinic Care Network appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota has awarded funding to three projects aimed at strengthening Minnesota's capabilities for developing and delivering therapies that replace, restore, rejuvenate or regenerate damaged cells, tissues or organs.

Co-led by the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic, Regenerative Medicine Minnesota brings together the state's leading research institutions to accelerate breakthroughs and bring new therapies to patients across the state.

The funded projects were selected for their potential to overcome challenges that slow the development and delivery of new therapies. Each project aims to build sustainable, widely accessible resources to help move regenerative treatments from the lab to patients more quickly.

The projects are:

Derivation of Induced Pluripotent (Adult) Stem Cell Lines in Minnesota with Superior HLA Compatibility for Manufacturing Clinical Cell Therapy Products

James Dutton, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

This initiative tackles a key challenge in regenerative medicine: access to clinical-grade starting materials. The project will generate high-quality, regulatory-compliant induced pluripotent (adult) stem cell (iPSC) lines with less risk of the immune system rejecting the cells. These lines will be made available to researchers across Minnesota, enabling the development of versatile, cost-effective cell therapies that can benefit a broad range of patients. By building a local supply of standardized starting materials, the project provides a long-term advantage to Minnesota's research community.

The Genome Engineering for Regenerative Medicine (GERM) Consortium

David Largaespada, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Addressing the critical need for quality and safety standards in gene-edited therapies, this new consortium will bring together academic and industry experts to establish best practices for gene delivery, editing and evaluation. The GERM Consortium will provide essential guidance and resources to ensure that genetically engineered therapies are developed with precision and safety. Through this collaborative effort, Minnesota will become a hub for innovation and regulatory compliance in cell and gene therapy.

Minnesota BRIDGE — Boosting Regenerative Medicine Innovation through Development, Growth, and Engagement

Melanie Graham, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

This project focuses on a major translational bottleneck: the lack of robust preclinical models. Minnesota BRIDGE will create a state-of-the-art translational research infrastructure that enables more predictive preclinical testing of regenerative therapies. By establishing this capability, Minnesota will become one of the few places in the nation equipped to accelerate therapy development with cutting-edge preclinical models — streamlining the path to clinical trials and patient care.

Together, these projects advance Regenerative Medicine Minnesota's goal of bringing new therapies to patients in Minnesota and beyond while establishing the state as a leader in regenerative medicine.

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About Regenerative Medicine Minnesota

Regenerative Medicine Minnesota was established in 2014 by the Minnesota State Legislature to improve the health of Minnesotans by advancing regenerative medicine. This state-wide initiative opens new economic opportunities through commercialization of technologies and leverages the strengths of Minnesota institutions to position the state at the forefront of regenerative medicine. The initiative distributes approximately $4 million in funding statewide every year for research, commercialization, and clinical translation initiatives that improve or increase access to scientifically proven regenerative medicine throughout the state. Learn more at www.regenmedmn.org.

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ROCHESTER, Minn. — Simultaneous bariatric surgery and liver transplant for patients who are severely obese is safe and improves long-term health outcomes, according to a recent Mayo Clinic study. This combined approach offers a needed solution for these patients who are often denied a lifesaving liver transplant due to their weight.

The 10-year study, published in the Journal of Hepatology, compared patients who received only a liver transplant with those who underwent both a liver transplant and bariatric surgery.

The combined approach resulted in sustained weight loss, reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and lower risk of fatty liver disease recurrence. Importantly, the combined procedure posed no additional risks compared to liver transplant alone.

"We've been amazed by the transformation our patients experience," says Julie Heimbach, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic Transplant Center in Minnesota and the study's senior author. "This dual approach prevents long-term obesity complications like diabetes, heart disease and cancer, while also preventing fatty liver disease recurrence."

How obesity and liver disease are connected

The percentage of liver transplant candidates in the U.S. with obesity continues to climb, with more than 41% of candidates having a body mass index above 30 in 2022. Obesity puts people at risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It's a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver, which can lead to inflammation, scarring and advanced liver disease. Patients with a body mass index of 40 are more likely to be denied a transplant due to their weight.

"Since MASLD is a leading cause of liver failure, it only makes sense to protect the precious, lifegiving new liver from the same damage that led to the patient needing a transplant in the first place. Safely combining the two procedures protects the transplanted liver and can provide profound health benefits to these patients," says Todd Kellogg, M.D., Mayo Clinic bariatric surgeon and the study's co-author.

What about using new prescription medications for weight loss?

New weight loss medications, such as GLP-1s, are being used to help some pre-transplant and post-transplant patients manage their weight. Still, Mayo Clinic experts say bariatric surgery remains an important option for patients with severe obesity due to its safety, proven effectiveness and lasting results. Another recent Mayo study related to kidney transplant patients supports this.

"The patients that we're talking about really have a significant amount of extra weight. The issue with the GLP-1 medications is they are effective in terms of weight loss as well as other benefits which are being identified, but they may not get these patients with severe obesity to their lasting goal of a healthier weight," Dr. Heimbach says.

Bringing together experts from different medical specialties is essential when treating these patients, says Ty Diwan, M.D., Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon and the study's co-author.

"This study shows that caring for these complex patients extends beyond the transplant itself," Dr. Diwan says. "Multidisciplinary care is required to maximize patient outcomes, and that is what we see in this data. By bringing together experts in very different fields, we've improved patient care and overall health outcomes."

Additional resources:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Dual procedure combines liver transplant, bariatric surgery

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Heather Carlson Kehren, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Study finds long-term health benefits from bariatric surgery and liver transplant appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Every year, some mothers die after giving birth due to heart problems, and many of these deaths could be prevented. The ability to screen for heart weakness before pregnancy could play a crucial role in identifying women who may need additional care to improve pregnancy outcomes. Mayo Clinic researchers, led by Anja Kinaszczuk, D.O., and Demilade Adedinsewo, M.D., tested artificial intelligence (AI) tools, using recordings from an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a digital stethoscope, to find unknown heart problems in women of childbearing age seen in primary care.   

Study findings published in the Annals of Family Medicine show high diagnostic performance of these technologies to detect left ventricular ejection fraction below 50%, indicating heart muscle weakness. These tools were tested on two groups of women aged 18 to 49.  

• Group 1: 100 women already scheduled for an echocardiogram (the best test to evaluate heart muscle function). They also had a standard clinical ECG and digital stethoscope recording of the heart’s electrical activity and heart sounds.  

• Group 2: 100 women seen for routine primary care visits to see how often the AI tools would find heart problems.   

The AI-ECG demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of .94 while the AI digital stethoscope, Eko DUO, achieved an even higher AUC of 0.98, indicating strong diagnostic accuracy. In the second cohort, the prevalence of positive AI screening results was 1% for the AI-ECG and 3.2% for the AI-stethoscope. 

"Statistically, nearly half of pregnancies in this country are unplanned, and approximately 1% to 2% of women may have heart problems they don't know about. Our research findings suggest that these AI tools could be used to screen women before pregnancy, allowing for improved pregnancy planning and risk stratification, early treatment, and better health outcomes which addresses a critical gap in current maternal care," says Dr. Adedinsewo, a cardiologist and senior author of the study.  

This research builds upon earlier published studies, including a pilot prospective study evaluating AI digital tools to detect pregnancy-related cardiomyopathy among obstetric patients in the U.S. and a pragmatic randomized clinical trial of women in Nigeria who were pregnant or had recently given birth. Collectively, this research highlights the potential of AI to modernize cardiovascular screening, enabling earlier identification and management of heart muscle weakness in women of reproductive age. Further research is underway to explore the potential of using these technologies to screen for heart weakness in broader populations.  

Mayo Clinic has licensed the underlying technology to EKO Health for its digital stethoscope with embedded ECG electrodes and to Anumana for the 12-lead ECG. Mayo Clinic and some study authors have a financial interest in this technology. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research. 

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.  

Media contact: 

• Terri Malloy, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post AI-ECG tools can help clinicians identify heart issues early in women planning to have children  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

April is Donate Life Month 

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — The traditional way to treat people with advanced kidney disease has been to use dialysis to remove waste from the blood while patients wait several years for kidneys from deceased organ donors. At Mayo Clinic, transplant surgeon Dr. Mikel Prieto and colleagues advocate for a different approach called preemptive transplantation: Kidneys from living donors are allowing many people with advanced kidney disease to receive transplants before their kidneys deteriorate so much that they need dialysis. 

Chronic kidney disease afflicts roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide and causes millions of deaths each year, according to the International Society of Nephrology. Kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from the blood that the body then expels in urine. Kidneys also help control blood pressure. In chronic kidney disease, kidneys gradually lose their effectiveness. Dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and waste can build up. Dialysis has traditionally been the next step.  

Dialysis removes waste and extra fluids from the blood, restores electrolyte levels (helping muscles, the heart and the brain work well) and aids blood pressure control. Depending on the type, dialysis can take place at home or at a dialysis center. If the patient is a candidate for a kidney transplant, dialysis can be a bridge to transplant. Dialysis takes hours multiple times per week and often requires significant lifestyle changes and dietary restrictions. Dialysis may occur for years if a patient is waiting for a kidney from a deceased donor.  

Dialysis extends life but unfortunately it often doesn't yield great quality of life, explains Dr. Prieto, who performs pediatric and adult kidney transplants and is surgical director of the pediatric kidney transplant program at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.   

"People on dialysis may feel kind of lousy for the most part. Although some manage to stay working and engaged in their other activities, a small percentage of patients on dialysis have a full, normal life," Dr. Prieto says. "Second, your body deteriorates because even though dialysis keeps you alive, it does not do a fantastic job at cleaning out all the waste. So, if someone is on dialysis for seven years and you look at their arteries, they may be a 40-year-old, but their arteries and blood vessels look like a 70- or 80-year-old. You want to minimize the amount of dialysis if you can."  

That is where living kidney donors come in. A living kidney donor is someone who donates a healthy kidney on behalf of a family member, friend or even a stranger. If the living donor's kidney isn't a direct match for an intended recipient, it can become part of a paired donor chain. The incompatible donor's kidney goes to someone who is a match, and the donor's intended recipient receives a kidney from a different and compatible donor. Donor chains can include several donor-recipient pairs. 

"Typically, unless you are really hard to match, we'll find a matching kidney for you within weeks or two to three months," Dr. Prieto says. "When you come for a transplant evaluation, we will ask whether you have or could have a living donor. If you don't, we will explain how to find one."  

There are other potential advantages to donor chains: The living donor and the kidney recipient, frequently spouses or close relatives, can be each other's caregivers after surgery. Participation in separate donor-transplant chains can ensure that their surgeries do not occur at the same time.    

Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota have extensive experience with living donor kidney transplants and living donor chains. At Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, roughly half of the patients who receive kidney transplants get them from living donors before their kidneys decline so much that they need dialysis, Dr. Prieto says. 

"Most people know for years in advance that they are going to need dialysis at some point, or a transplant," he explains. "It's much better to plan for a transplant now because waiting times for a deceased donor can be years. During that waiting time, your kidney function keeps deteriorating."  

Patients typically become candidates for a kidney transplant when their kidney function drops below 20%. Dialysis usually starts when function reaches around 10%. If you start thinking about transplantation at this time, it is often too late, and you will be on dialysis awhile, Dr. Prieto says.  

"So that's the sweet spot: transplant between 20% and 10% of kidney function. That's what we call preemptive transplantation," Dr. Prieto says. "That's what we try to do here at Mayo. If we time things right, we can do the transplant and avoid dialysis altogether." 

Dr. Prieto and Mayo Clinic are early adopters of living kidney donation, paired donation and donor chains. In the U.S., the National Kidney Registry facilitates living kidney donation and donor chains. Mayo Clinic is a member institution and Dr. Prieto serves on the registry's medical advisory board. 

Many of the patients Dr. Prieto treats have autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, an inherited condition in which clusters of cysts grow and substantially enlarge kidneys, potentially causing kidney failure. Symptoms often appear in middle age. In the conventional approach, such patients would have their kidneys removed, go on dialysis, and then months or years later have a kidney transplant.  

Dr. Prieto has perfected a technique that spares people with polycystic kidney disease multiple visits to the operating room. He removes the enlarged kidneys laparoscopically, a minimally invasive approach that prevents a large incision. Then, in the same operation, using a kidney usually from a living donor, he gives the patient a new kidney.   

"In many cases of polycystic kidney disease, the kidneys are so big that it's very uncomfortable," Dr. Prieto says. "People cannot tie their shoes. They cannot bend over. They eat and feel full very quickly. Even breathing sometimes can be difficult. Also, their kidneys can bleed chronically, so patients are hospitalized with severe pain, bleeding or infection." 

He and his colleagues are now embarking on another new frontier: They seek to give patients kidneys that are such a perfect match that their bodies are much less likely to reject them, diminishing the need to take a high dose of immune system-suppressing drugs.  

"We want to give patients kidneys they will never reject," Dr. Prieto says. 

JOURNALISTS: Global, regional and national statistics on chronic kidney disease are available here (free log-in required). 

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About Mayo Clinic 
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Media contact:  

• Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

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