Stanford Cardiothoracic Surgery Researchers Develop Novel Platform to Transform Transplant Coordination

A team of researchers in the Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is developing a dedicated software platform designed to solve one of the most critical challenges in organ transplantation: coordination. The platform aims to improve workflow and communication among the numerous clinical and logistical teams involved in managing transplant cases, streamline organ allocation, and ensure the successful placement of donor organs.

Pierre Theodore, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Maria Currie, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, are leading the project alongside development leader Nathan Choi, a research assistant and member of Dr. Currie’s laboratory.

"Transplantation is complex and time-sensitive, but it’s also an opportunity to improve how we coordinate care. We’re focused on strengthening the system so it works more smoothly for both patients and care teams,” said Dr. Theodore. 

Their work aims to help streamline the complex transplant process, which requires meticulous coordination among surgeons, physicians, coordinators, operating room staff, and procurement teams—often across long distances and under severe time constraints. Current systems, which rely on fragmented communication channels, can lead to critical delays that impact the transplant process.

As such, the team is designing the platform to directly address these operational issues by creating a more unified and reliable system for communication.

Building a More Efficient System

Dr. Currie’s Transplantation Lab focuses on optimizing organ allocation systems to improve equity, transparency, and operational efficiency in transplantation. A central line of research examines how allocation policies influence both patient survival and equitable access across populations.

Given the scarcity of donor organs, allocation frameworks must navigate trade-offs between medical urgency, expected post-transplant benefit, and fairness. The lab evaluates how different policy designs affect outcomes, with the goal of informing evidence-based approaches that maximize overall benefit while reducing disparities.

In parallel with policy research, the team is developing the dedicated software platform to address the immediate operational challenges. The idea for the software platform stemmed from Dr. Currie’s fellowship in the Stanford Biodesign Faculty Fellowship Program. The project grew from what Dr. Currie identified as an “immediate need within transplantation” to improve workflows and efficiently get patients to the operating room for life-saving transplants.

Dr. Currie explained that the platform is a practical tool designed to fulfill the lab’s broader mission.

The solution helps coordinate the many tasks required before a patient goes to transplant, such as obtaining blood work and patient consent, she explained. It ensures that information is conveyed to all team members and provides real-time visibility of when tasks are completed or when new actions are needed.

“Our team is excited by the prospect of developing this communication coordination solution, designed to enhance transparency, reduce errors, improve efficiency, and ultimately support better patient care,” said Dr. Currie. "By creating a smooth, reliable interface, we hope to improve the organ donation and transplant coordination experience from end-to-end and, most importantly, the outcomes for recipients."

Health Technology Innovation and Clinical Practice

Both Drs. Theodore and Currie know firsthand the challenges of organ procurement and transplantation. As part of a multidisciplinary team at Stanford Health Care, they are involved in heart, lung, and combined heart-lung transplantation and bring deep expertise in both clinical practice and technological innovation to the project.

Dr. Theodore, who has served as a mentor to Dr. Currie since her fellowship in the Stanford Biodesign Program, brings extensive experience as a cardiothoracic surgeon, surgical educator, and procurement surgeon. He also contributes a unique perspective from the technology sector, providing industry advice gained from leadership roles in entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation, including his current executive position at Genentech.

“Health technology innovation is exceptionally challenging due to a combination of high-stakes and heavily regulated environments, along with fragmented systems,” said Dr. Theodore. He noted that their combined expertise is critical for navigating the complex landscape of implementing new solutions in a clinical setting.

Dr. Currie brings a deep focus on outcomes research and policy analysis to the project, with her lab's research concentrating on using data-driven insights to improve organ allocation policies and transplant results. Her work is grounded in her clinical experience as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Stanford Hospital and Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, giving her direct insight into the real-world impact of these systemic challenges.

The team's work was recently recognized with the 2024 Stanford Cardiovascular Health (CVH) Innovation Fund Award for the project "Optimization of Cardiac Transplant Donation, Assessment, and Acceptance," with Dr. Currie as the principal investigator.

The team will present their work at the American Transplant Congress, June 20-24, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.