Biomarker-guided Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Patients
Official title: Assessment of Biomarker Guided CNI Substitution in Kidney Transplantation
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11550940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $50,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01AI170424-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550940 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have received a kidney transplant and are undergoing standard or variable immunosuppression plans, with available HLA-DR/DQ biomarker data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing biomarker-guided treatment changes or without access to the biomarker data may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a multicenter observational design with a nested randomized trial to see if the HLA-DR/DQ molecular mismatch score can predict graft injury and rejection. It builds on prior collaborations and biomarker expertise to understand who might benefit from adjusting tacrolimus-based regimens. By prospectively tracking outcomes after different immunosuppression strategies, the study aims to personalize treatment for at-risk kidney transplant patients. The goal is to improve long-term graft function while minimizing drug-related side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more tailored immunosuppression, potentially reducing rejection and toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: Prior retrospective analyses linked HLA-DR/DQ mismatches to rejection risk, but this is among the first prospective and trial-nested evaluations.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heeger, Peter Scott — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Heeger, Peter Scott
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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.