Blocking IL-23 to prevent complications after bone marrow transplants
Official title: Blockade of IL-23 for the Prevention of Graft Versus Host Disease
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-10818392 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether blocking a substance called IL-23 can help prevent a serious condition called graft versus host disease (GVHD) that can happen after bone marrow transplants, and it's aimed at helping people who are getting these transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $555,103 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL153192-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10818392 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who are scheduled to receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing bone marrow transplants or those with pre-existing severe gastrointestinal conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how blocking a specific inflammatory cytokine, IL-23, can help prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD), a serious complication that can occur after bone marrow transplants. The study aims to understand the mechanisms by which IL-23 contributes to inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract during GVHD. By conducting experiments in mice and translating these findings to human patients, the researchers hope to determine if targeting IL-23 can reduce the severity of GVHD in individuals receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce the risk and severity of GVHD in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting inflammatory cytokines for similar conditions, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drobyski, William R. — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Drobyski, William R.
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.