Rebecca P. 2026 | BASIS Independent McLean
- Project Title: Meta-Analysis of Immune Rejection Outcomes After Hypoimmunogenic Gene Editing in Laboratory-Grown Tissues
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Monica Isquith
The global shortage of transplantable organs continues to constrain the treatment of organ failure, prompting advances in laboratory-grown tissues through regenerative medicine. Immune rejection remains a significant obstacle to the long-term clinical application of engineered tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells. Hypoimmunogenic gene editing has emerged as a promising approach to reduce immune recognition by altering antigen presentation pathways and introducing immune-evasive molecules. Although many preclinical studies report decreased immune cell infiltration and enhanced graft survival following these modifications, results are heterogeneous across tissue models and experimental conditions. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical transplantation studies that compare immune rejection outcomes in hypoimmunogenic gene-edited tissues with unedited controls. By quantitatively synthesizing current evidence, this research seeks to clarify the effectiveness and limitations of hypoimmunogenic gene editing as an immune-avoidance strategy in engineered tissues.
