Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Starzl Institute

My primary interest within the International Xenotransplantation Association is to support safe and effective clinical translation of xenotransplantation as a solution to the critical global shortage of donor organs. I am particularly focused on advancing therapeutic strategies that enable successful clinical use of genetically engineered pig organs for patients with end-stage organ failure. Achieving this goal requires continued progress in overcoming the immunologic, and physiologic barriers that currently limit long-term xenograft survival. My research interests center on understanding the immune mechanisms that contribute to xenograft rejection and dysfunction, and on developing clinically relevant approaches to control these responses. This includes evaluating novel immunomodulatory strategies aimed at promoting immune regulation and reduce the need for intensive immunosuppression in future clinical trials.

In addition, I am committed to emphasizing the critical importance of the translational pathway from rigorous preclinical studies in nonhuman primate models to early-phase clinical trials. This process is essential for establishing the safety, efficacy, and optimal therapeutic strategies required for successful clinical application in humans.

Also, within the Association, I hope to contribute to collaborative efforts aimed at addressing key clinical challenges related to long-term xenograft survival and the long-term management of transplant recipients. As xenotransplantation enters an era of early clinical application, I believe that international collaboration will be essential to develop standardized protocols, regulatory frameworks, and shared clinical experience. Through my role on the IXA Council, I look forward to helping guide initiatives that accelerate responsible clinical progress in xenotransplantation

Hidetaka Hara, MD, PhD, is Professor at the Transplantation Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, China. His research focuses on overcoming key immunological barriers to xenotransplantation, including anti-pig antibody responses, innate immune activation, and inflammation in pig-to-primate transplantation. He has extensive experience in preclinical xenotransplantation studies using genetically engineered pigs, encompassing organ, tissue, and cellular transplantation models aimed at enabling safe clinical translation. As a Councilor of the International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA), he represents the Asian xenotransplantation community and promotes information sharing, international collaboration, and the responsible advancement of xenotransplantation research and clinical application across Asia.

Dr. Korbutt is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alberta and the Scientific Director of the Alberta Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility, the only institute of its kind in Western Canada capable of producing therapeutic-grade cells for transplantation. As one of the original Edmonton Protocol team members that developed islet cell transplant to treat Type 1 diabetes, and current Director of the Alberta Diabetes Institute Histology Core, Dr. Korbutt is a leading expert in diabetes and human cell biology research. His research program has focused on optimizing the isolation and transplantation of neonatal porcine islets in rodent and pre-clinical large animal models. One of Dr. Korbutt’s most notable recent innovations is the development of localized immune-suppression to prevent islet graft rejection (PMID: 37765170, 31650674). Dr. Korbutt’s group is GMP-certified, allowing for rapid bench to clinic translation. As part of this initiative, Dr. Korbutt co-founded Transcyto Inc. to facilitate efficient commercialization of neonatal porcine isets.

Alexandre Loupy, MD, PhD, is Professor of Nephrology and Epidemiology at Necker Hospital (Université Paris Cité) and Director of the Paris Institute for Organ Transplantation and Regeneration (PITOR). A physician–scientist trained in internal medicine, transplantation, and biostatistics, his research focuses on precision medicine in transplantation, integrating multi-omics data, artificial intelligence, and large clinical networks to improve diagnostics, risk prediction, and graft outcomes. He leads the Paris Transplant Group, a multidisciplinary research consortium studying immune responses and innovation in organ transplantation. In xenotransplantation, his work aims to develop advanced diagnostic systems to characterize the xenoimmune response, guide immunosuppressive strategies, and accelerate safe clinical translation of pig-to-human organ transplantation. Through international collaborations and clinical research initiatives, he contributes to building the scientific and translational framework needed to bring xenotransplantation into clinical practice.

Raphael P. H. Meier, MD, PhD, is a transplant surgeon-scientist and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, USA. He specializes in liver, kidney, and pancreas transplantation as well as hepatobiliary surgery. His clinical and academic work focuses on developing innovative therapies to address end-stage organ diseases, including diabetes, renal failure, and liver failure.

Dr. Meier’s research program focuses on xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine. His work spans multiple areas of xenotransplantation research, including islet xenotransplantation, hepatocyte xenotransplantation, and solid-organ xenotransplantation. A major focus of his laboratory is improving the microenvironment and survival of encapsulated xenogeneic pancreatic islets using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and biomaterial-based microencapsulation technologies. His group has also investigated MSCs as therapeutic cellular platforms capable of delivering anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic molecules to modulate immune responses and improve graft survival in xenotransplantation and chronic liver disease.

His research further explores strategies to enhance xenogeneic hepatocyte function, improve graft tolerance and immune modulation, and develop cell-based therapies for liver fibrosis and inflammatory liver diseases. In parallel, Dr. Meier is involved in translational research examining machine perfusion technologies, graft preservation, and novel bridging strategies using xenogeneic organs for acute liver failure.

Dr. Meier currently serves as Chair of the Young Investigator Committee of the International Xenotransplantation Association, where he leads initiatives aimed at supporting early-career investigators and strengthening international collaboration in xenotransplantation research. He also contributes to multiple international transplant societies and collaborative scientific initiatives focused on xenotransplantation and transplant immunology.

He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications in surgery, transplantation, and xenotransplantation research, including the recent position paper on kidney xenotransplantation from the International Xenotransplantation Association. He serves as Senior Xenobulletin Consultant Editor for the American Journal of Transplantation and as Literature Update Section Editor for Xenotransplantation.

Robert Rieben is an emeritus professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland. He has been actively working on xenotransplantation for more than 30 years. From 1992 to 2002 he mainly worked on the use of synthetic antigens and complement inhibitors to prevent hyperacute rejection. Since 2003 his focus shifted increasingly to the endothelial glycocalyx and its importance in the regulation of complement, coagulation and fibrinolysis in xenotransplantation. From 2012 to 2024 Robert Rieben was affiliated to the German Transregio 127 research project on xenotransplantation, where he was involved in pig-to-baboon cardiac xenotransplantation, including the milestone paper of Längin et al., published in Nature in 2018.

Rita Bottino is an internationally recognized expert in islet xenotransplantation and pancreatic cell therapy. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to improving treatment options for people with diabetes, including developing approaches using genetically engineered porcine islets that have shown long-term success in preclinical models. Alongside her research, she has played an active role in shaping the field through her leadership in the International Xenotransplantation Association, where she has served as Secretary/Treasurer and Councilor, and now contributes to its Ethics and Communications Committees. She has held faculty positions at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Allegheny Health Network. Today, as Director of Islet Programs at Imagine Pharma, she leads clinical and research efforts with a focus on turning scientific discoveries into meaningful therapies for patients.