Dr. Alexander Wiseman is the Executive Director of Kidney Transplantation at the Centura Transplant Institute in Denver Colorado. He completed both his undergraduate and medical school training at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at University of California, San Francisco and completed his nephrology and transplant nephrology fellowships at University of Colorado. His was previously a Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado from 2013-2019 and was the Medical Director for Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation Programs from 2008-2019. Dr. Wiseman’s interests include access to transplantation, organ allocation and utilization, novel immunosuppressive strategies, and transplant therapies for diabetes. He has served as Chair for a number of ASN and AST supported meetings, has given over 200 invited lectures nationally and internationally, and is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Transplantation.
Cell-free DNA in Transplant Assessments
Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is the term used to describe the small fragments of DNA that occur naturally and circulate in the blood stream. Advanced technology using cfDNA has improved testing and screening options for transplant recipients. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) can assess the amount of cell-free DNA in an organ recipient’s blood that originates from the donor. Elevated levels of cfDNA in the recipient’s blood may signify an increase in cell death from kidney injury and/or rejection. Studies have shown that cfDNA testing is more sensitive and specific than serum creatinine and is able to detect acute rejection at an earlier stage. Join us to hear from genetic testing experts as they discuss cell-free DNA and its potential as a powerful biomarker in transplant assessments.