Calming innate immune 'memory' to protect transplanted organs
Targeting trained immunity in transplantation
This project looks at ways to turn down the innate immune system's 'memory' to help organ transplant patients avoid rejection and reduce side effects from current immune-suppressing drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
After an organ transplant, some innate immune cells develop a long-lasting heightened response called trained immunity that can drive rejection. The team will study how epigenetic changes in bone marrow stem cells produce these trained innate immune cells and will test strategies to block or reverse that programming. Research combines laboratory models, analysis of patient samples, and early clinical data to link trained immunity with graft outcomes. The goal is to develop treatments that can be added to current care to improve long-term transplant survival and reduce complications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have received or are scheduled to receive an organ transplant and who are willing to provide samples or take part in related clinical protocols.
Not a fit: People without organ transplants or whose problems are due to non-immune surgical or anatomical issues would not expect to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower rejection rates and allow gentler immunosuppression, reducing infections and other drug-related harms.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some preliminary clinical sample analyses suggest trained immunity affects graft outcomes, but moving from those findings to proven treatments is still a new and unproven area.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fayad, Zahi a. — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Fayad, Zahi a.
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.