Richard Wood and intestinal transplantation

Abstract 

Richard Wood (1943–2003) developed an interest in small bowel transplantation on his appointment to the Chair of Surgery at the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK, in 1984 and he organized the first international symposium on the subject in October 1989. His research which initially focused on intestinal function evolved to assess the role of migration of leukocytes between graft and host tissues in the development of rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). His group explored avenues to prevent rejection and GvHD, but none of these initiatives were totally effective. They did show that ischemia, rejection, and GvHD in heteropic small bowel grafts were all associated with shifts in intestinal microflora toward potentially pathogenic organisms. When the research program relocated to the University of Sheffield in 1994, studies were undertaken to assess adhesion molecule and heat shock protein expression during intestinal allograft rejection. An interest in ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury also developed and in vivo microscopy was used to directly visualize the intestinal villus microcirculation after intestinal I/R injury. Hypothermia and the nitric oxide donor FK 409 were shown to prevent mortality, and to attenuate localized and remote tissue damage and leukocyte adherence in the villus microcirculation. In contrast, tacrolimus had no such effect. These studies were ongoing when ill health forced his retirement in 2002. He maintained a keen interest in, and enthusiasm for, the experimental program despite his progressive illness. This support continued to inspire all investigators around him.