C1 esterase inhibitor injected into deceased-donor kidneys before transplant
Official title: Intra-graft C1 esterase inhibitor therapy for deceased kidney transplantation
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11180440 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether injecting a medicine called C1 esterase inhibitor into donated deceased kidneys before transplant helps adult recipients recover better and have stronger kidney function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $2,216,525 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI184203-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180440 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who are receiving a kidney from a deceased donor and are eligible for standard kidney transplantation would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People receiving living-donor kidneys, pediatric patients, or those who are not undergoing kidney transplantation would not be eligible and would not benefit directly from this trial.
What this research studies
If I were getting a kidney from a deceased donor, this trial would randomly assign the donated organ to receive an injection of C1 esterase inhibitor into the renal artery before it is implanted or to receive standard care. Doctors will then follow my recovery, early injury after reperfusion, and kidney function over time, including one-year outcomes. The approach builds on earlier single-center pilot trials and preclinical work showing that blocking complement activation may limit ischemia-reperfusion injury. The study is conducted at Cedars-Sinai and focuses on adult transplant recipients of deceased-donor kidneys.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could lower early transplant injury and improve one-year graft function, reducing the risk of delayed graft function and graft loss.
How similar studies have gone: Two single-center randomized pilot trials provided supportive signals that pre-implantation C1 esterase inhibitor may improve outcomes, and this larger randomized trial builds on those findings.
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.