Sotiris Mastoridis

My research explores mechanisms of immunological activation and tolerance following transplantation. I am particularly interested in understanding why certain organs, specifically the liver, are less likely to undergo rejection following withdrawal of immunosuppressive medications. My work describes the central role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from transplanted tissues in eliciting and coordinating recipient immune responses. EVs released from the transplanted liver possess specific properties which can act to tip the immune response towards a state of tolerance. An understanding of these pathways can serve to guide the development of novel approaches to organ specific immunotolerance, thereby minimising the need for conventional, highly toxic immunosuppressive regimens. In collaboration with partners in industry, my current focus is on harnessing the inherent capacity of EVs for targeted delivery of bioactive molecules and engineering them to develop biotherapeutics in transplantation and in liver diseases.