Research projects

Below are showcases of my research projects, which include links to publications, study protocols, and presentations (talks, posters).

1. KIDMO—Kidney prediction model

KIDMO is a clinical prediction model for the prognosis in kidney transplant recipients at the time of organ offer. It will support decision-making to better understand donor, recipient, and transplant-related risks. The model is currently developed with data from over 2,000 kidney transplant recipients.

Figure: Schematic overview of the KIDMO multivariable prediction model.

Resources

Publications

Schwab S, Sidler D, Haidar F, Kuhn C, Schaub S, Koller M, et al. Clinical prediction model for prognosis in kidney transplant recipients (KIDMO): study protocol. Diagn Progn Res. 2023;7: 6. doi:10.1186/s41512-022-00139-5

2. EXAM—Ex vivo allograft monitoring

EXAM is an analytics dashboard for analyzing hypothermic machine perfusion data in deceased-donor kidney transplantation.

Figure: EXAM analytics dashboard.

Resources

Publications

Schwab S, Steck H, Binet I, Elmer A, Ender W, Franscini N, et al. EXAM: Ex vivo allograft monitoring dashboard for the analysis of hypothermic machine perfusion data in deceased-donor kidney transplantation. Research Square. 2023. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2713168/v1

3. WAIT—Waitlist analysis in transplantation

Median organ waiting times published by transplant organizations may be biased when not appropriately accounting for censoring, death, and competing events. This can lead to overly optimistic waiting times for all transplant programs and, consequently, may deceive patients on the waiting list, transplant physicians, and health care policymakers. This study applyied competing-risk multistate models to calculate probabilities for transplantation and adverse outcomes on the Swiss national transplant waiting list.

Figure: Cumulative incidence curves for transplantation for the different organs A—E with 95% confidence bands and median time to transplantation (MTT) defined as the duration corresponding to the cumulative incidence of 0.50 (dashed line).

Publications

Schwab S, Elmer A, Sidler D, Straumann L, Stürzinger U, Immer F. Selection Bias in Reporting of Median Waiting Times in Organ Transplantation. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(9):e2432415-e2432415. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32415

4. REPORT—Reporting and evaluation of prediction models in organ transplantation

Clinical prediction models for prognosis can predict outcomes and support decision-making. Previous research criticized the quality of prediction models concerning poor reporting and the risk of bias. How this applies to prediction models in organ donation and transplantation needs to be clarified. Therefore, this scoping review aims to assess prediction models used in transplant centers in Switzerland and update clinicians on the transparency, quality of reporting, and risk of bias of these tools.

Figure: To transplant or not to transplant? Assessing the quality and limitations of existing prediction models can inform further research to develop novel or update existing models to improve the decision-making at transplant centers.

Resources

Projects as a statistical consultant

  • Hôpitaux Universitaires Genève (HUG)
    Donation-after-circulatory death liver transplantation. Outcomes and risk factors for graft loss and ischemic cholangiopathy in the Swiss setting.

  • Universitäts-Kinderspital Zürich
    Prediction of the serum creatinine after kidney transplantation in children.

  • Kantonsspital St. Gallen (KSSG)
    Outcome of dual kidney transplantation in Switzerland—a national cohort study.

  • University Hospital Zürich (USZ)
    Differences between the observed and expected serum creatinine range after kidney transplantation.