Renaissance of immunosuppressive therapy in the new millennium

Immunosuppression in the next millennium will be based not merely on the survival of the patient and his graft, but more importantly on regimens that optimize the "Three C's": Co-morbidity, Cost, and Convenience. To meet these goals, the field of transplantation urgently requires new technologies: both new scientific tools of drug design, testing, and implementation, and informational tools including a categorical database and theoretical models to answer specific therapeutic questions. Just as the Renaissance marked a renewed interest in man himself after an age of Medieval spiritualism, so too will transplantation need to address the unique concerns of each patient to achieve an optimal outcome that includes self-reliance and the desired "texture of life." In weaving our tapestry for the 21st century, we must meet these challenges not merely with the 20th century tools at hand but with a strategic vision that searches for, readily adopts, and effectively harnesses unique technology.