Better Understanding Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Conditions
Official title: Improving Outcomes Assessment in Chronic Graft versus Host Disease
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11066490 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to better understand chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in people who have received a stem cell transplant, hoping to find ways to personalize their care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | July 18, 2007 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $535,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA118953-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11066490 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and developed chronic graft-versus-host disease are the focus of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not received an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant or do not have chronic graft-versus-host disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
After a stem cell transplant, many survivors develop chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a serious complication that can affect many parts of the body and significantly impact quality of life. This condition often requires long-term treatment with strong medications. We are working to fill important gaps in our knowledge about cGVHD by studying a large number of patient samples from our extensive collection. Our goal is to identify different groups of patients with cGVHD based on their unique biological markers, such as proteins in their blood and specific cell types. This could help us understand why cGVHD affects people differently and lead to more personalized treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more tailored and effective treatments for chronic graft-versus-host disease, improving the lives of transplant survivors.
How similar studies have gone: While previous studies have provided some insights, this project aims to address key gaps by studying larger patient numbers and using advanced techniques to identify distinct patient subgroups, representing a novel approach to understanding cGVHD.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Stephanie J — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Lee, Stephanie J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
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Microbiome-based therapy for treatment-refractory GVHD after stem cell transplant
A microbiome-based therapy is being developed to help people who have graft-versus-host disease that doesn’t respond to standard treatments after a stem cell transplant.
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Role of altered mitochondria in preventing GVHD after stem cell transplant
This NIH grant explores how damaged mitochondria released during pre-transplant conditioning may trigger graft-versus-host disease and tests ways to fix mitochondrial dynamics to prevent GVHD.
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Fecal transplant plus fiber to treat graft-versus-host disease after blood stem cell transplant
A study to see if giving fecal transplant along with dietary fiber helps gut health and reduces complications in patients who have received a stem cell transplant and developed graft-versus-host disease.
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Using medium-chain fatty acids and a fat-sensing receptor to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease
This project looks at whether changing medium‑chain fatty acids or blocking a fat sensor called GPR84 can help people with chronic graft‑versus‑host disease after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
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Microbiome-based oral therapy for gut GVHD after stem cell transplant
Researchers are testing an oral live Biotherapeutic Product to help the gut microbiome improve graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant patients.
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.