here are the key takeaways from the text, focusing on the sisters’ story and the researchโ developments:
Silvia and Elena’s Story:
* โ โฃ Silvia โคneeded a kidney transplant and began dialysis.
* Elena, โSilvia’s โsister, volunteered to donateโฃ a kidney. Initiallyโฃ hesitant due to her children, she was inspired โby their mother’s experience with a kidney removal and long life afterward.
* โ The donation process was rigorous, involving โขextensive medical โand โขpsychological evaluationsโค to ensure it was a genuine and informed decision.
* Both sisters feel positivelyโฃ impacted by โคthe transplant. Elena describes it as “giving birth to anotherโฃ child,” and โSilvia acknowledges the immense โขstrengthโ of โthe gesture.
* โฃ Both sisters โคareโ now living normal lives and actively involved in volunteer work.
Research Developments (Mario Negri Institute):
* โ Silvia participated in โa Mario Negri trial aimed at eliminating the need โขfor anti-rejection therapy. She received mesenchymal cells before the โtransplant and has asโฃ been able to completely eliminate โimmunosuppressants as ofโข January โคof the current year.
* โ The โฃinitial results of โtheโ trial were promising.
* โ Ongoing and future research:
* A new study called “Phoenix” โขis โฃunderway โwith โขinternational collaboration โข(Canada, Spain, France).
* โ A potential “cell farm” for transplants is being considered atโข Kilometro Rosso in Bergamo.
โข * โ An Irish organization is seeking EU funding for related research.
* Aโ new transplant Immunology Laboratory โwillโ open at Kilometro Rosso inโ 2026, building on 15 years of experience.
* Strong collaboration between Mario Negri and Pope John XXIII Hospital on transplant research, โคkidney diseases, diabetes, โคrare and neurological diseases.
* The institute receives many requests for treatment highlighting the needโฃ for continued investment โฃin research.
The text emphasizes the power of organ donation, the importance of โresearch in improving โฃtransplant outcomes (specifically reducing โขor eliminating the need โขfor โขimmunosuppressants), andโค the collaborative spirit driving advancements in the field.