University of California San Francisco

Kang Sang Mo
Sang-Mo
Kang
MD

Professor of Surgery
Division of Transplant Surgery
Surgical Director of Liver Transplantation
UCSF-Benioff Children’s Hospital

Address

505 Parnassus Avenue, #M893B
San Francisco, CA 94117
United States

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 415-502-5337
Fax: 415-502-8326

Biography

Dr. Sang-Mo Kang is an organ transplant surgeon, performing transplants of the kidney, liver and pancreas. His expertise includes gastrointestinal surgery, laparoscopic kidney donor surgery, laparoscopic liver surgery, and surgeries related to the liver, bile ducts and gallbladder.

Kang maintains a research laboratory focused on understanding how the immune system responds to transplanted organs. He investigates new methods to induce transplant-specific tolerance, with the goal of replacing immunosuppressive medications. He has been awarded research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Kang earned his medical degree at Harvard Medical School and completed a surgical residency and transplant fellowship at UCSF Medical Center. He received two research fellowships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which he used to study transplant immunology at the NIH and the UCSF Transplantation Research Laboratory.

Kang teaches fellows, residents and medical students at UCSF.

Education

Institution Degree Dept or School End Date
University of California Diversty, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training 05/2021
Harvard University M.D. School of Medicine 1992

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Surgery, 2000

Clinical Expertise

Bile Duct Injuries
Bile Duct Strictures
Choledochal Cyst Disease
End-Stage Kidney Disease
Fulminant Hepatic Failure
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer)
Intestinal Failure
Intestinal Transplantation
Kidney Transplantation
Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy
Liver Cysts
Liver Transplantation
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Pancreas Transplantation
Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Pediatric Kidney Transplantation
Portal Hypertension
Short Bowel Syndrome

Clinical Trials

  1. Donor-Alloantigen-Reactive Regulatory T Cell (darTregs) in Liver Transplantation (NCT02188719)
    Related Conditions: Liver Transplant| Start Date: | End Date:
  2. Donor-Alloantigen-Reactive Regulatory T Cell (darTreg) Therapy in Renal Transplantation (The ONE Study ) (NCT02244801)
    Related Conditions: Kidney Disease, Kidney Transplant| Start Date: | End Date:

Program Affiliations

UCSF Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation

UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Liver Center at UCSF

Diabetes Center at UCSF

 

Grants and Funding

  • Donor-Alloantigen-Reactive Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Liver Transplantation | NIH | 2014-06-01 - 2021-05-31 | Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • Donor-Specific Regulatory T Cell Therapy in Liver Transplantation | NIH | 2012-04-01 - 2014-03-31 | Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • Tolerance Induction Using Modified Dendritic Cells | NIH | 2007-04-01 - 2010-03-31 | Role: Principal Investigator
  • Tolerance Induction Using Modified Dendritic Cells | NIH | 2003-04-01 - 2008-03-31 | Role: Principal Investigator

Research Narrative

The Kang Lab is developing novel strategies for the induction of transplant-specific tolerance. The research focuses on achieving what is known as "allo-specific transplant tolerance",  a specialized method of preventing the rejection of a transplanted organ without suppressing the entire immune system. 

Currently, transplant recipients must receive immunosuppressive drugs to suppress their own white blood cells (T cells) that attack foreign cells and cause organ rejections.  Unfortunately, these non-specific drugs affect the entire immune system and thus carry significant risks for infection and certain malignancies. The goal is to eliminate the need for global immunosuppression in transplant recipients.  Ideal immunotherapy would be one that targets only the donor-specific immune cells that cause rejection, without affecting any of the other immune cells, thus leaving the immune system intact and able to function at full capacity.

To this end, the lab is conducting several experiments to gain insight into the mechanisms of rejection.  These projects include the use of specialized immune cells in targeting specific lymphoid organs, as well as investigations into the contributions of CD+4 T cells and CD8 T cells to the process of transplant rejection.  The laboratory's work is helping to define important parameters for potential treatments in humans.

Research Interests

  • Transplant Immunology
  • Dendritic Cell Immune Therapy
  • Novel Strategies for the Induction of Transplant-specific Tolerance
  • T-cell Mediated Transplant Rejection as well as Tolerance

Publications

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 28
  1. Altered balance between effector T cells and FOXP3+ HELIOS+ regulatory T cells after thymoglobulin induction in kidney transplant recipients.
    Tang Q, Leung J, Melli K, Lay K, Chuu EL, Liu W, Bluestone JA, Kang SM, Peddi VR, Vincenti F| | PubMed
  2. CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell therapy in transplantation.
    Tang Q, Bluestone JA, Kang SM| | PubMed
  3. Expansion of a unique CD57⁺NKG2Chi natural killer cell subset during acute human cytomegalovirus infection.
    Lopez-Vergès S, Milush JM, Schwartz BS, Pando MJ, Jarjoura J, York VA, Houchins JP, Miller S, Kang SM, Norris PJ, Nixon DF, Lanier LL| | PubMed
  4. Experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy among more than 1000 cases: low complication rates, despite more challenging cases.
    Ahearn AJ, Posselt AM, Kang SM, Roberts JP, Freise CE| | PubMed
  5. Hepatic surgery at a VA tertiary medical center: lessons learned.
    Alemi F, Kwon E, Freise C, Kang SM, Hirose R, Stewart L, Corvera CU| | PubMed
  6. A new T-cell receptor transgenic model of the CD4+ direct pathway: level of priming determines acute versus chronic rejection.
    Brennan TV, Hoang V, Garrod KR, Liu FC, Hayden T, Kim J, Kang SM| | PubMed
  7. The activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and its ligands are involved in allograft transplant rejection.
    Kim J, Chang CK, Hayden T, Liu FC, Benjamin J, Hamerman JA, Lanier LL, Kang SM| | PubMed
  8. Investigating the immunological mechanisms underlying organ transplant rejection.
    Kang SM| | PubMed
  9. Small bowel transplantation in mice.
    Liu F, Kang SM| | PubMed
  10. Heterotopic heart transplantation in mice.
    Liu F, Kang SM| | PubMed
28
View all 28 Publications
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 28
  1. Advantages and Limitations of Clinical Scores for Donation After Circulatory Death Liver Transplantation.
    Meier RPH, Kelly Y, Yamaguchi S, Braun HJ, Lunow-Luke T, Adelmann D, Niemann C, Maluf DG, Dietch ZC, Stock PG, Kang SM, Feng S, Posselt AM, Gardner JM, Syed SM, Hirose R, Freise CE, Ascher NL, Roberts JP, Roll GR| | PubMed
  2. Non-operative management of biliary complications after Liver Transplantation in pediatric patients: A 30-year experience.
    Lee AY, Lehrman ED, Perito ER, Kerlan RK, Kohi MP, Kolli KP, Taylor AG, Ostroff JW, Kang SM, Roberts JP, Rhee S, Rosenthal P, Fidelman N| | PubMed
  3. Expanding living donor liver transplantation: Report of first US living donor liver transplant chain.
    Braun HJ, Torres AM, Louie F, Weinberg SD, Kang SM, Ascher NL, Roberts JP| | PubMed
  4. COVID-19 and Abdominal Transplant: A Stepwise Approach to Practice During Pandemic Conditions.
    Syed SM, Gardner J, Roll G, Webber A, Mehta N, Shoji J, Adelmann D, Niemann C, Braun HJ, Mello A, Yao F, Posselt A, Kang SM, Hirose R, Roberts J, Feng S, Ascher N, Stock P, Freise C| | PubMed
  5. Inferior Long-Term Graft Survival of Suboptimal Kidneys After Living Donor Kidney Transplantation.
    Yamanaga S, Freise CE, Stock PG, Rosario A, Fernandez D, Kobayashi T, Tavakol M, Kang SM| | PubMed
  6. Long-Term Safety, Immunologic Response, and Imaging Outcomes following Neural Stem Cell Transplantation for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease.
    Gupta N, Henry RG, Kang SM, Strober J, Lim DA, Ryan T, Perry R, Farrell J, Ulman M, Rajalingam R, Gage A, Huhn SL, Barkovich AJ, Rowitch DH| | PubMed
  7. Inferior long-term graft survival after end-to-side reconstruction for two renal arteries in living donor renal transplantation.
    Yamanaga S, Rosario A, Fernandez D, Kobayashi T, Tavakol M, Stock PG, Kang SM| | PubMed
  8. A Single Perioperative Injection of Dexamethasone Decreases Nausea, Vomiting, and Pain after Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy.
    Yamanaga S, Posselt AM, Freise CE, Kobayashi T, Tavakol M, Kang SM| | PubMed
  9. Interpretation of transplant biopsies and immune responses following Treg cell therapy.
    Tang Q, Kang SM| | PubMed
  10. Neural stem cell engraftment and myelination in the human brain.
    Gupta N, Henry RG, Strober J, Kang SM, Lim DA, Bucci M, Caverzasi E, Gaetano L, Mandelli ML, Ryan T, Perry R, Farrell J, Jeremy RJ, Ulman M, Huhn SL, Barkovich AJ, Rowitch DH| | PubMed
  11. Altered balance between effector T cells and FOXP3+ HELIOS+ regulatory T cells after thymoglobulin induction in kidney transplant recipients.
    Tang Q, Leung J, Melli K, Lay K, Chuu EL, Liu W, Bluestone JA, Kang SM, Peddi VR, Vincenti F| | PubMed
  12. CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell therapy in transplantation.
    Tang Q, Bluestone JA, Kang SM| | PubMed
  13. Expansion of a unique CD57⁺NKG2Chi natural killer cell subset during acute human cytomegalovirus infection.
    Lopez-Vergès S, Milush JM, Schwartz BS, Pando MJ, Jarjoura J, York VA, Houchins JP, Miller S, Kang SM, Norris PJ, Nixon DF, Lanier LL| | PubMed
  14. Experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy among more than 1000 cases: low complication rates, despite more challenging cases.
    Ahearn AJ, Posselt AM, Kang SM, Roberts JP, Freise CE| | PubMed
  15. Hepatic surgery at a VA tertiary medical center: lessons learned.
    Alemi F, Kwon E, Freise C, Kang SM, Hirose R, Stewart L, Corvera CU| | PubMed
  16. A new T-cell receptor transgenic model of the CD4+ direct pathway: level of priming determines acute versus chronic rejection.
    Brennan TV, Hoang V, Garrod KR, Liu FC, Hayden T, Kim J, Kang SM| | PubMed
  17. The activating immunoreceptor NKG2D and its ligands are involved in allograft transplant rejection.
    Kim J, Chang CK, Hayden T, Liu FC, Benjamin J, Hamerman JA, Lanier LL, Kang SM| | PubMed
  18. Investigating the immunological mechanisms underlying organ transplant rejection.
    Kang SM| | PubMed
  19. Small bowel transplantation in mice.
    Liu F, Kang SM| | PubMed
  20. Heterotopic heart transplantation in mice.
    Liu F, Kang SM| | PubMed
  21. Targeted lymphoid homing of dendritic cells is required for prolongation of allograft survival.
    Garrod KR, Chang CK, Liu FC, Brennan TV, Foster RD, Kang SM| | PubMed
  22. More than 500 consecutive laparoscopic donor nephrectomies without conversion or repeated surgery.
    Melcher ML, Carter JT, Posselt A, Duh QY, Stoller M, Freise CE, Kang SM| | PubMed
  23. Laparoscopic procurement of kidneys with multiple renal arteries is associated with increased ureteral complications in the recipient.
    Carter JT, Freise CE, McTaggart RA, Mahanty HD, Kang SM, Chan SH, Feng S, Roberts JP, Posselt AM| | PubMed
  24. Laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy: a large single-center experience.
    Posselt AM, Mahanty H, Kang SM, Stoller ML, Meng MV, Roberts JP, Freise CE| | PubMed
  25. Congenital choledochal cysts in adults.
    Visser BC, Suh I, Way LW, Kang SM| | PubMed
  26. Technique, indications and outcomes of pure laparoscopic right donor nephrectomy.
    Abrahams HM, Freise CE, Kang SM, Stoller ML, Meng MV| | PubMed
  27. Excellent short-term results with steroid-free maintenance immunosuppression in low-risk simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.
    Freise CE, Kang SM, Feng S, Hirose R, Stock P| | PubMed
  28. Techniques to optimize vascular control during laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
    Meng MV, Freise CE, Kang SM, Duh QY, Stoller ML| | PubMed