ApoL1 Kidney Transplant Outcomes Network study at Johns Hopkins
Official title: 3/14 ApoL1 Long-Term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (Apollo) Clinical Center
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11372923 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how APOL1 gene variants affect kidney transplant results, especially for recipients from donors with African ancestry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,714 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK116042-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372923 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults receiving kidney transplants or living donors with African ancestry may be eligible for related components of the program.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without African ancestry or those not involved in the transplant setting may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one is involved in kidney transplantation, this program looks at how genetic risk factors in APOL1 influence graft survival and kidney function over time. Researchers gather data from multiple centers to track graft loss, kidney function decline, acute rejection, and protein in urine after transplantation. The study aims to understand long-term outcomes so that future donor selection and care can be personalized. Participation would involve clinical follow-up and analysis of donor and recipient information collected over years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could improve donor screening and post-transplant care to improve graft longevity.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked APOL1 risk variants to worse transplant outcomes, but the APOLLO consortium broadens understanding across diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brennan, Daniel Conlon — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Brennan, Daniel Conlon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Strategies for HIV-to-HIV kidney transplants to increase organ donations
This project looks at making HIV-to-HIV kidney transplantation more common to help people with HIV get transplants faster by boosting organ donation and changing practice.
-
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.
-
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.