Analyzing single immune cells and genetics behind transplant complications
Single Cell Analysis and Immunogenetics
This project uses single-cell and genetic tests to understand why some people develop chronic graft-versus-host disease and lung scarring after stem cell transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174468 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect immune cells and lung samples from people who had hematopoietic stem cell transplants and from those who develop chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), including bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). They will perform bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing to see which genes are active in different cell types and use T-cell receptor sequencing to track T cell clones. Donor and recipient DNA will be compared by whole exome sequencing to find genetic differences, and computer algorithms will predict small peptides that might trigger immune reactions. These data will be combined to map the immune and lung changes linked to treatment response and resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have received hematopoietic stem cell transplants and have, or are at risk for, chronic graft-versus-host disease, particularly with lung involvement such as BOS.
Not a fit: People who have never had a stem cell transplant or do not have cGVHD are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal why some patients don't respond to current treatments and help create personalized tests or therapies to prevent or treat cGVHD and transplant-related lung disease.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and T-cell receptor sequencing have provided new insights in transplant immunology, but combining donor–recipient exome data with algorithms to predict minor histocompatibility antigens for lung cGVHD is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Dana-Farber Cancer Inst — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Livak, Kenneth James — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Livak, Kenneth James
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.