David Mulligan, MD, FACS, FAST, FAASLD
Cards
About
Research
Overview
Most recently, I have been heavily involved in national liver allocation and distribution. During my career, I have been extensively involved in scientific and clinical research as well as extensive public policy development and consensus generation. My scientific research began with ischemia/reperfusion injury in livers, immunologic modulation to improve and prolong graft function, and currently working on ex-vivo machine perfusion and 3-D bioprinting for transplantation.
St Peter SD, Post DJ, Rodriguez-Davalos MI, Douglas DD, Moss AA, Mulligan DC. Tacrolimus as a liver flush solution to ameliorate the effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury following liver transplantation. Liver Transpl. 2003 Feb; 9(2):144-9. PubMed MID:12548508.
Adding to the scientific research came the opportunity to publish our clinical outcomes, with particular emphasis on Living Donor Liver Transplantation and modulation of immunosuppression.
Hsieh TH, Mekeel KL, Crowell MD, Nguyen CC, Das A, Aqel BA, Carey EJ, Byrne TJ, Vargas HE, Douglas DD, Mulligan DC, Harrison ME. “Endoscopic treatment of anastomotic biliary strictures after living donor liver transplantation: outcomes after maximal stent therapy”. Gastrointest Endosc. 2013 Jan; 77(1):47-54 Epub 2012 Oct 11. PubMed PMID:23062758. DOI:10.1016/j.gie.2012.08.034.
Reddy KS, Devarapalli Y, Mazur M, Hamawi K, Chakkera H, Moss A, Mekeel K, Post D, Heilman R, Mulligan D. Alemtuzumab with rapid steroid taper in simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplantation: comparison to induction with antithymocyte globulin. Transplant Proc. 2010 Jul-Aug; 42(6):2006-8. PubMed PMID:20692393.
Since coming to Yale, I have been working with our team to establish successful ex-vivo machine perfusion for solid organ transplantation and utilization of 3-D bioprinting for transplantation.
- Munoz-Abraham AS, Patron-Lozano R, Narayan RR, Judeeba SS, Alkukhun A, Alfadda TI, Belter JT, Mulligan DC, Morotti R, Zinter JP, Geibel JP, Rodriguez-Davalos MI. Extracorporeal Hypothermic Perfusion Device for Intestinal Graft Preservation to Decrease Ischemic Injury During Transportation. Gastrointest Surg. 2016 Feb;20(2):313-21.
Most recently, I have become heavily involved with national issues regarding liver allocation and distribution. As the past Chair of the UNOS Liver and Intestinal Transplantation Committee, I led two major national forum meetings sponsored by HRSA as well as multiple webinars, conferences and regional meetings to create consensus around what is best for patients to best utilize the scarce national resources.
- Edwards EB, Harper AM, Hirose R, Mulligan DC. The impact of broader regional sharing of livers: 2-year results of “Share 35”. Liver Transpl 2016 Apr;22 PMID: 26890858. (4):399-409. DOI: 10.1002/lt.24418.
- Gentry SE, Hirose R, Mulligan D. Resolving Misconceptions About Liver Allocation and Redistricting Methodology. JAMA Surg. 2016 Oct 1;151(10):991-992. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2016.1315. No abstract available. PMID: 27333440.
- Gentry SE, Segev DL, Kaiske BL, Mulligan DC, Hirose R. “Robust Models Support Redistricting Liver Allocation to Reduce Geographic Disparity”. Transplantation. 2015 Sep;99(9):e159-60. DOI: 10.1097/TP.0000000000000834. No abstract available. PMID: 26308421
Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=mulligan%2C+david
D. Research Support
Ongoing:
U01 AI063594-11 Heeger (PI); Formica (Site PI) 09/01/2015-08/31/2019
Effects of Inhibiting Early Inflammation in Kidney Transplant Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial of Infliximab (Remicade) Induction Therapy for Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients.
The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of intravenous infliximab administered at the time of transplantation, prior to reperfusion, on 2-year kidney transplant survival and function.
Role: Co-I
QRK306 QPI-1002 Kulkarni (PI) 12/2015-12/2019
A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of QPI-1002 for Prevention of Delayed Graft Function in Recipients of a Donation after Brain Death Older Donor Kidney Transplant (ReGIFT)
The objective is to determine the efficacy of QPI-1002 in reducing the incidence and severity of delayed graft function in comparison to placebo in recipients of a donation after brain death older donor kidney.
Role: Co-I
IM103-177 Formica (PI) 09/2015-06/2019
Evaluation of Acute Rejection Rates in de novo Renal Transplant Recipients Following Thymoglobulin Induction, CNI-free, NulojixÒ (belatacept) -based Immunosuppression
The primary objective is to assess the incidence of clinically-suspected and biopsy proven acute rejection (CSBPAR) at 6 months post-transplant in de novo renal allograft recipients treated with thymoglobulin induction, rapid corticosteroid withdrawal, and maintenance belatacept in combination with MMF or EVL, or maintenance TAC in combination with MMF.
Role: Co-I
HIC#1405014029 Heeger (PI); Kulkarni (Site PI) 09/2014-06/2017
Eculizumab for Prevention of Delayed Graft Function in Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation
This is a pilot prospective, randomized study to test the efficacy of eculizumab (vs. placebo; given once at the time of transplantation and once 24 hours later) in preventing DGF in first adult recipients of deceased donor kidneys.
Role: Co-I
Completed:
CTOT U01 RFA-AI-08-015 Friedewald (PI); Heilman (Site PI) 07/01/2009 - 06/30/2014
Proteogenomics for Organ Transplantation: Prediction, Diagnosis, Intervention, Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation
Role: Co-I
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
David C. Mulligan, MD, is an internationally acclaimed leader in organ procurement, distribution, and transplantation—with a focus on living-donor liver transplants, and a professor of surgery at Yale School of Medicine. He also performs pancreas and kidney transplants, as well as surgery for liver and pancreatic disorders and tumors.
Dr. Mulligan, who established the solid organ transplant program at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona before joining Yale Medicine, chose his field partly because of the amazing recoveries patients often make after an organ transplant. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see a patient who was moments from death walk out the door days after surgery with an entirely new outlook on life—and the ability to live a healthy, normal life,” he says.
Organ transplant has evolved rapidly in the last 30 years, and the Yale New Haven Transplantation Center is a leader in performing both kidney and liver transplantations. But, getting organs for all the people who need them has become more difficult, with some patients waiting several years.
Dr. Mulligan believes living-donor transplants are a solution to the organ shortage. He has helped drive a pioneering initiative by Yale Medicine and Yale New Haven Hospital that is creating supportive communities of living donors and providing them with free, lifelong local medical monitoring for any health issues that may arise related to their organ donation.
“If transplant surgeons don’t have these organs, it’s like having one hand tied behind our back, and we are unable to help our patients,” Dr. Mulligan says. “I think we can do better.”
Dr. Mulligan is also a past president of the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS)/Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN), and served as division chief for Transplant Surgery at Yale from 2013 until 2022.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Liver Transplant
Learn More on Yale MedicineLiving Donor Organ Transplantation
Learn More on Yale MedicineKidney Transplant
Learn More on Yale MedicineAnesthesia for Organ Transplant
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Surgery General
- Certification Organization
- AB of Surgery
- Latest Certification Date
- 2012
- Original Certification Date
- 1994
Yale Medicine News
News
News
- August 06, 2024Source: Yahoo News
'I Almost Died of Liver Failure at Age 50-This Is the First Sign I Wish I'd Paid Attention To'
- June 07, 2024Source: WTNH
West Hartford man uses Facebook to find organ donor
- December 05, 2023Source: USA TODAY
Why lifesaving tests for organ transplant patients are now out of reach for many
- May 01, 2023
Connecticut Magazine’s 2023 “Top Doctors” issue recognizes 81 Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center physicians