— Last month, physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center made headlines after performing what is regarded as the most extensive face transplant in history. In 1997, a firearm accident left Richard Norris without a nose, lips, and part of his tongue. For the next fifteen years, he kept his face hidden. But three days after his trailblazing surgery last March, he looked in the mirror and saw the new face that he could show to the world without fear. The biology behind transplantation plays a huge part in how they’re done and what can happen afterwards. Whether it’s a boundary-breaking face transplant or a more common kidney transplant, the biology behind transplantation influences how donors and recipients are matched up, the care a patient will need after the surgery, and ultimately, the outcome of the transplant, even years down the road. Continue reading Trials and Tribulations of a Transplant