A better early response measure for acute graft‑versus‑host disease

Validation of a novel and more accurate endpoint for GVHD clinical trials

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11258564

This project will use a blood‑biomarker score plus early symptom severity to see if they better predict outcomes for people with acute GVHD after a transplant.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11258564 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you or a loved one develop acute GVHD after an allogeneic bone marrow transplant, researchers will combine blood tests (MAGIC biomarkers) and symptom information at diagnosis and again at two weeks (day 14) to create a risk score. They will compare this day‑14 biomarker‑driven measure to the current standard that looks for response at day 28 to see which better predicts complications and survival. The work uses patient samples and clinical data from Mount Sinai's MAGIC consortium and other transplant centers to validate the new endpoint in real‑world patients. If validated, the new measure could help doctors make earlier treatment decisions and speed future GVHD trials.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who develop acute GVHD after an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant and can provide blood samples and short‑term clinical follow‑up.

Not a fit: People without acute GVHD, those with only chronic GVHD, or transplant patients outside the early post‑transplant window would likely not receive direct benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors identify high‑risk GVHD patients earlier and help bring better treatments to patients faster.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show MAGIC biomarkers can predict GVHD outcomes, but using a validated day‑14 biomarker plus clinical endpoint as a trial surrogate is relatively new and still being confirmed.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Graft Versus Host Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.