Right now, thousands of people in the UK are in need of an organ transplant. Tragically, many will die before one becomes available due to the severe lack of organ donations.  

What is life like on the organ transplant waiting list? What ethical dilemmas does the shortage of organs raise? How are patients taking matters into their own hands? And in what ways are researchers seeking to address the problem?

Professor Sir Robert Lechler and kidney transplant patient Louise Sach share their thoughts and discuss ideas for how we might be able to create a world where everyone in need of a lifesaving transplant receives one.

This event is part of SPARE PARTS, a season exploring the art and science of organ transplantation and tissue regeneration.  

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS:

Sir Robert Lechler is Senior Vice President/Provost (Health) and Professor of Immunology at King’s College London, Executive Director of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre, and President of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He specialises in transplantation tolerance and immunology. The central aim of his research is to persuade the immune system to ‘tolerate’ the foreign organ while retaining full capability to fight off infections and cancer.

By age 28, Louise Sach had experienced renal failure for 20 years and was in desperate need of a kidney transplant. It came as a shock when none of her friends or family were a direct match. However instead of waiting indefinitely on the deceased donor list, she took matters into her own hands and posted a Facebook appeal online in search of a live kidney donor. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and on 1st June 2018 she received a kidney from Kayleigh Wakeling, who came forwards as a compatible altruistic donor.

Josh Babarinde graduated from LSE with a degree in Government and is Founder and CEO of Cracked It, an award winning social enterprise smartphone repair service staffed by young offenders and those at risk.