In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we sit down with Dr. Helios Tedesco, a globally recognized transplant nephrologist from São Paulo, Brazil, who leads one of the world’s largest kidney transplant programs. Joined by CTI experts Dr. Christopher Boshkos, Senior Medical Director, and Clinical Scientist, Erika Aldag, the conversation explores the challenges and innovations behind managing more than 15,000 transplant patients, from telehealth expansion and donor matching to cutting-edge immunosuppressive strategies and the future of surveillance tools such as cell-free DNA and the iBox model. This episode offers a rare look into the science, systems, and human dedication driving transplant care forward.
00:00 Host Jeremy Strand introduces the podcast and this episode’s focus on transplant innovation.
00:35 Dr. Helios Tedesco (São Paulo), Dr. Christopher Boshkos, and Clinical Scientist Erika Aldag join to discuss global kidney transplant practices.
01:13 Dr. Tedesco shares his background, highlighting nearly 40 years in nephrology, performing over 1,000 kidney transplants annually, and a strong foundation in research.
03:17 Managing large transplant populations involves strategic follow-up care, decentralized nephrology networks, and an expanding role for telehealth.
06:30 How patients are matched to regimens, minimizing rejection and addressing regional challenges.
11:49 Dr. Tedesco explains their one-dose thymoglobulin approach and its benefits over traditional multi-dose methods.
18:34 New tools for monitoring graft health include donor-derived cell-free DNA, advanced biopsy techniques, and an examination of barriers to widespread adoption.
24:25 Discussion on the potential of the iBox model as a predictive tool for clinical trials and long-term graft survival.
28:15 Transplant science is headed toward improved long-term therapies, innovative biologics, and more patient-friendly immunosuppression options.
32:15 Successes and learnings from scaling telehealth to support a large patient base.
37:41 Appreciation for the collaboration between CTI and global transplant centers.
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