NIH-funded research U01 cooperative agreement

Biomarkers to tailor liver transplant immunosuppression

Official title: Utility of Biomarkers of Rejection and Kidney Injury in Tailoring Liver Transplant Immunosuppression

Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11412569 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A multi-center study using blood biomarkers to guide how immunosuppressive drugs are given to liver transplant patients.

More Transplant research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project startSeptember 6, 2021
Project endJune 30, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$377,553
NIH project number5U01AI163081-06
Project IDNIH-11412569 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults who have received a liver transplant and are undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Less likely to help

Patients not undergoing biomarker-guided management or those without post-transplant immunosuppression-related concerns may see limited benefit.

What this research studies

This project will follow liver transplant patients over time to see if measuring specific blood biomarkers can help personalize immunosuppressive therapy. By comparing standard care with biomarker-guided management, researchers aim to reduce rejection and kidney injury while keeping drug exposure effective. The study builds on prior CTOT-14 findings and uses modern biomarker platforms to track immune activation and organ injury. If successful, this approach could lead to more precise treatment and better long-term outcomes for patients. The trial is conducted across multiple centers with Northwestern University coordinating the effort.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more personalized immunosuppression, potentially reducing rejection and kidney injury and improving transplant outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Prior biomarker studies suggest promise, and this trial tests whether biomarker-guided care improves outcomes in a real-world setting.

Where this research is happening

  • Northwestern University
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Boike, Justin — Northwestern University
  • Study coordinator: Boike, Justin

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.