Curtis L. Cetrulo, Jr., MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Academic Titles

Associate Professor, Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Cancer Immunology

Research Abstract

The Vascularized Composite Tissue Allotransplantation Laboratory of the Transplantation Biology Research Center is investigating tolerance induction strategies for hand and face transplantation (vascularized composite tissue allografts or VCA) in the immunogenetically-defined MGH miniature swine model. These transplants can replace tissue defects following cancer or injury. Current research efforts are directed toward use of mixed hematopoietic chimerism to induce transplantation tolerance to VCA and toward exploring the immunologic mechanisms involved in tolerance and rejection of the skin component of the VCA.