B Cells and Lung Transplant Rejection: How B Cells Shape Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Official title: The role of recipient-derived B cells regulating ischemia reperfusion injury and its link to alloimmune responses after lung transplantation
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11342078 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how recipient B cells influence lung transplant injury and rejection after surgery, with the aim of improving long-term outcomes for patients who receive a lung transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL185226-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11342078 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing lung transplantation and their post-operative care teams.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for lung transplant or those not receiving B-cell–targeted approaches may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one needs a lung transplant, understanding how immune cells like B cells contribute to graft injury could lead to better cooling and drug strategies after surgery. The researchers will use advanced imaging to watch B cells and their signaling in lung tissue and connect these findings to how the immune system reacts to the transplanted organ. The goal is to identify new targets to prevent injury and improve graft function, potentially reducing short-term complications and long-term dysfunction. Results could guide more effective therapies that spare patients from severe rejection and dependence on heavy immunosuppression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new approaches that reduce transplant injury and improve long-term lung graft survival.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked B cells and specific signaling pathways to graft injury, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful improvements.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nava, Ruben — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Nava, Ruben
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Body composition and outcomes after lung transplant
A patient-focused look at how body fat and muscle measurements around the time of lung transplant relate to recovery, complications, and quality of life after surgery.
-
Objective lung-donor quality tools to expand the transplant pool
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-
Bmp-Cx40 signaling to keep lung blood vessels calm after transplant
A study aims to keep blood vessels in transplanted lungs stable by boosting a specific signaling pathway to reduce injury after transplant.
-
Complement inhibition to protect transplanted lungs from early injury
A small early trial tests whether a drug that blocks a key part of the immune system can prevent damage to new lungs right after transplant.
-
Phase 1 trial of siltuximab for antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplant
A early-stage study tests whether siltuximab can help people who have antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplantation.
-
Targeted delivery of immune-suppressing agents to the lung graft to prevent rejection
A study at Northwestern University will test a new, targeted approach to prevent lung transplant rejection by delivering immune-suppressing drugs directly to the graft while blocking early signals that trigger rejection.
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.