Blood microRNA test to monitor immune balance after heart transplant
Phenotyping Net Immune State with MicroRNAs in Cardiac Transplantation
A blood microRNA test will track immune balance in adults after heart transplant to help tailor their immunosuppressive medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Inova Health Care Services NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295388 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have regular blood draws to measure tiny RNA molecules called microRNAs that circulate in your blood. Those microRNA patterns will be linked to your medication doses, infections, and any rejection events from your medical records. The team will use sequencing and deep clinical information to create a panel of microRNAs that flag when you are over- or under-immunosuppressed. That panel is meant to help doctors adjust immunosuppressive drugs more precisely and sooner than current methods.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who have received a heart transplant and are willing to attend follow-up visits and provide serial blood samples and clinical information.
Not a fit: People without a heart transplant, children under 21, or those unable or unwilling to provide blood samples or follow-up care would not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help personalize immunosuppression to lower risks of rejection, infection, and medication-related organ damage.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data and early studies suggest circulating microRNAs can reflect immune activity after transplant, but this approach still needs larger clinical validation to guide treatment.
Where this research is happening
Fairfax, UNITED STATES
- Inova Health Care Services — Fairfax, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Palak — Inova Health Care Services
- Study coordinator: Shah, Palak
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 below.