Stuart J. Knechtle, MD

My Locations

Duke Cancer Center Gastrointestinal (GI) Clinic

20 Duke Medicine Cir
Clinic 3-2

Durham, NC 27710-2000

Office: 919-668-6688 Get Directions

Duke University Hospital

2301 Erwin Rd

Durham, NC 27710

Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

Duke is where I learned surgery, was taught how to interact with patients, and began my professional training. I am returning to Duke after working at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and later Emory (Atlanta) as a transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon. I enjoy working with adults and children who need surgery of the liver and biliary tract, liver vascular surgery, or kidney transplantation. I am actively engaged in research to reduce the risk of rejection of organ transplants. My wife and I have three sons, and we enjoy sports and being outdoors.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions

Surgery
- Abdominal Transplant Surgery

Current Appointments and Affiliations

William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Surgery 2018
Professor of Surgery, Surgery, Abdominal Transplant Surgery 2015
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Nephrology 2019

Languages

English

Areas of Expertise

Hepatobiliary Surgery
Kidney Transplant
Liver Transplant Surgery
Pancreas Transplant
Transplant Immunosuppression

Training

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery, General Surgery

Residency

Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1982-1984

Research Fellow, Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1984-1986

Senior Resident, Surgery, Duke University Hospital, 1986-1988 (Chief Resident, 1988-1989)

Education

MD, Cornell University Medical College (New York), 1982

Fellowship

Multi-Organ Transplantation, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1989-1991

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research laboratory has been funded by the NIH since 1992 and focuses on strategies to prevent organ transplant rejection. In particular, we are focused on immunologic tolerance strategies, monitoring of rejection, and strategies to prevent antibody-mediated rejection. I lead several clinical trials including research to treat autoimmune hepatitis and development of better liver preservation using machine perfusion. I have helped develop new treatment protocols for liver cancer that benefit patients with cancer of the bile ducts.

Publications and Grants

Knechtle, S. J., L. P. Marson, and P. J. Morris. Preface to the eighth edition, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-53186-3.05002-6.
Knechtle, S. J., L. P. Marson, and P. J. Morris. Kidney transplantation - Principles and practice, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-01606-6.
Kirk, A. D., S. J. Knechtle, C. P. Larsen, J. C. Madsen, T. C. Pearson, and S. A. Webber. Textbook of Organ Transplantation: Volume 1-2. Vol. 1–2, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118873434.

Gao, Qimeng, Isaac S. Alderete, Nihal Aykun, Kannan P. Samy, Christopher L. Nauser, Siavash Raigani, Isabel F. DeLaura, et al. “Transforming the logistics of liver transplantation with normothermic machine perfusion: Clinical impact versus cost.” Liver Transpl 31, no. 6 (June 1, 2025): 750–61. https://doi.org/10.1097/LVT.0000000000000560.
Anwar, Imran J., Isabel DeLaura, Joseph M. Ladowski, Davide Schilirò, Qimeng Gao, Miriam Manook, Janghoon Yoon, et al. “CD154 blockade effectively controls antibody-mediated rejection in highly sensitized nonhuman primate kidney transplant recipients.” Sci Transl Med 17, no. 779 (January 2025): eadn8130. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adn8130.
Devinney, Michael J., Andrew R. Spector, Mary C. Wright, Jake Thomas, Pallavi Avasarala, Eugene Moretti, Jennifer E. Dominguez, et al. “The Role of Sleep Apnea in Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders Among Older Noncardiac Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.” Anesth Analg 140, no. 1 (January 1, 2025): 99–109. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000007269.

Knechtle, S. J., J. Kwun, B. Lovasik, A. B. Farris, A. J. Tector, and A. B. Adams. “Antibody-Mediated Graft Rejection in Nonhuman Primate Models: Comparison of Sensitized Allotransplant and Xenotransplant Rejection.” In Clinical Xenotransplantation Pathways and Progress in the Transplantation of Organs and Tissues Between Species, 157–64, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49127-7_9.
Schroder, P. M., L. P. Marson, and S. J. Knechtle. “Early course of the patient with a kidney transplant.” In Kidney Transplantation Principles and Practice, 198–211, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-53186-3.00014-0.
Patzer, R. E., R. E. Hamoda, and S. J. Knechtle. “Results of renal transplantation.” In Kidney Transplantation Principles and Practice, 684–708, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-53186-3.00039-5.

Ladowski, Joe, Henry Chapman, Imran J. Anwar, Isabel DeLaura, Annette Jackson, Stuart J. Knechtle, Bruce Rogers, and Jean Kwun. “312.7: A histocompatibility epitope prediction software for xenotransplantation donor-recipient optimization.” In Transplantation, 107:99–99. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2023. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.tp.0000994312.78023.ca.
Jackson, A. M., K. Williams, L. Stempora, S. Song, G. H. Kelsoe, F. Lee, D. C. Nguyen, et al. “Early Results of the Adapt Desensitization Trial in Kidney Transplant (tx) Candidates with 100% Cpra: Impact of Carfilzomib and Belatacept.” In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, 23:S374–S374, 2023.
Anwar, I. J., I. DeLaura, Q. Gao, J. Yoon, J. M. Ladowski, J. Kwun, and S. J. Knechtle. “Anti-CD40L-Based Desensitization and Immunosuppression Promotes Long-Term Graft Survival in Allosensitized Nonhuman Primate Kidney Transplantation.” In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, 23:S595–96, 2023.

Clinical Trials

ALXN2023 - CONCORD (Antibody-Mediated Rejection after Kidney Transplant)

IRB#

PRO00117477,

NCT#

NCT06744647

Insurance

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna/CVS Health
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
CIGNA
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
- *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
First Health
Gateway Health Alliance
Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization
- Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization plans*
- *This plan is only accepted at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and Duke HomeCare & Hospice.
Healthgram

Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
MedCost
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
MultiPlan / Private Healthcare Systems
NC Medicaid
- WellCare of North Carolina
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- NC Medicaid Direct
- Healthy Blue
- Carolina Complete Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
OneNet PPO
Optima Health
- FAMIS*
- Optima Family Care (Medicaid HMO in VA)*
- Optima Individual & Family (On & Off Exchange Plans)
- Optima Plus (PPO)
- Optima Vantage (HMO)
- *Duke Primary Care, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital are not participating with this plan.
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.

LifeMine
Renovar
Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Duke Health Referring Physicians

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