The increasing evidence that antibodies develop following transplantation and contribute to acute and chronic rejection, has prompted us to study the structure and physicochemical properties of HLA molecules and how they influence HLA immunogenicity. It is becoming clear that the greater the HLA mismatch between the transplant recipient and their donor, the more likely that the patient will form anti-HLA antibodies. This means that if the patient loses the transplant through rejection, they are less likely to be offered a new transplant when they go back on the waiting list. We are also exploring how the relationship between NK cell receptors and HLA influences the outcome of transplantation. This research is a collaboration with Dr Craig Taylor and Prof. John Trowsdale.