APOL1 and Long-term Kidney Transplant Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center
Official title: 4/14 APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11373095 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant supports a clinical center that studies how APOL1 gene variants and other factors affect kidney transplant survival in African American donors and recipients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $89,350 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK115997-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373095 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals involved in or awaiting kidney transplantation, particularly African American donors/recipients or those with APOL1 risk variants, may be eligible for related studies or future evaluations.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in transplantation or without African ancestry-related APOL1 considerations may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a family member receive a kidney transplant, this program looks at why kidneys from African American donors with APOL1 risk variants may fail sooner and how other factors influence outcomes. The team collects and analyzes data from active follow-up of transplant cases to understand interactions between genetics and environment. The goal is to improve donor selection, evaluation, and long-term care to reduce disparities in transplant success. Participation would involve clinical follow-up and data collection within the Birmingham, AL area under the APOLLO framework.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of APOL1-related risks could lead to improved donor evaluation and longer-lasting kidney transplants for people of African ancestry.
How similar studies have gone: Previous findings show APOL1 variants influence transplant outcomes; APOLLO aims to translate this into clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Agarwal, Gaurav — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Agarwal, Gaurav
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
Biomarker-guided Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Patients
A multicenter study in kidney transplant recipients is testing whether a biomarker score from HLA-DR/DQ can guide changes in immunosuppression to reduce rejection risk and drug toxicity.
-
Helping the immune system accept a donated kidney in patients without prior sensitization
This project will try giving specially treated donor B cells alongside immune-sparing medicines to teach the immune systems of kidney transplant patients without prior antibodies to accept the new kidney.
-
Lowering donor-specific antibodies in sensitized kidney transplant patients
This project works to reduce harmful donor-specific antibodies in people who are sensitized and need a kidney transplant so their new organ lasts longer.
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Reducing geographic disparities in kidney transplant access with AI and operations research
Aiming to use AI and operations research to make kidney transplant access more fair across different regions in the U.S.
-
Centralized patient coaching to boost live donor kidney transplantation
A US-wide program trains patients, caregivers, and their networks with coaching to help them pursue living donor kidney transplantation.
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.