The Roche Organ Transplantation Research Foundation (ROTRF) has awarded research grants to five U.S. teams to support work designed to advance the science of solid organ transplantation.

"The Trustees hope that the funds available through the Foundation will permit transplantation researchers to develop new technologies and areas of interest, and will encourage researchers in other areas to study transplantation problems," said Philip Halloran, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta and Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees

The research grants were awarded to teams headed by:

+ Dr. Maria-Luisa Alegre, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL for research on "The role of costimulatory molecules in cardiac allograft rejection;"

+ Dr. Michael Autieri, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA for research on "Characterization of expression and growth enhancing properties of AIF-1 in VSMC of injured arteries;"

+ Dr. Debra Hullett, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI for research on the "Effect of vitamin D on renal allograft function;"

+ Dr. Dianne McKay, Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA for research on "Alterations in IL-2R signaling induced by anti-IL-2R antibodies;" and-