ChronicGVHD: How it happens and new ways to treat it
Official title: Mechanisms and Therapy of Chronic Graft-vs.-Host Disease
Funded at Dana-Farber Cancer Inst · NIH-11411246 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant is funding research on chronic graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant, with a focus on the lungs and other organs, to improve outcomes for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dana-Farber Cancer Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,512,662 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL158505-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411246 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and are at risk for or currently experiencing chronic GVHD, including BOS.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient does not develop GVHD or BOS, they may not directly benefit, though findings could still advance general GVHD care.
What this research studies
This grant supports a multi-year program to understand why chronic GVHD develops after allogeneic stem cell transplant and to explore new therapeutic approaches. Researchers will investigate immune cell behavior and metabolism to identify potential targets for treatment. The work may involve patient samples and data, plus preclinical studies that could lead to future clinical trials. The goal is to reduce organ damage, improve survival, and enhance quality of life for people affected by cGVHD and BOS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatments that prevent or lessen organ damage from chronic GVHD, improving survival and function for transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in GVHD have shown that targeting immune pathways can influence disease outcomes, but precise metabolic targets in cGVHD are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cutler, Corey S — Dana-Farber Cancer Inst
- Study coordinator: Cutler, Corey S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Propagation of GVHD through CD4+ T-cell recognition of gut bacteria
Researchers are studying how a patient’s immune cells recognize gut bacteria after stem cell transplant to better understand and manage graft-versus-host disease.
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How donor DNA affects immune responses in blood stem cell transplants
This study is looking at how changes in donor DNA can help improve the success of stem cell transplants by boosting the body's ability to fight cancer while lowering the chances of complications, and it's aimed at helping patients who are getting these transplants.
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Understanding and treating chronic graft-versus-host disease and its lung form, bronchiolitis obliterans
This project works to find new treatments that block immune and metabolic drivers of chronic GVHD and bronchiolitis obliterans in people after allogeneic stem cell transplant.
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How donor DNA affects immune responses in blood stem cell transplants
This study is looking at how changes in DNA from donor cells can affect the immune system during stem cell transplants, with the goal of finding better ways to help patients with serious cancers avoid complications while still fighting the disease.
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Understanding and treating chronic graft-versus-host disease
This study is looking at how chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) affects the lungs after a stem cell transplant, and it aims to find new ways to help patients by understanding the immune cells involved in this condition.
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Understanding how Galectin-3 affects Graft vs. Host Disease and Graft vs. Tumor responses
This study is looking at how a protein called Galectin-3 affects the immune responses in patients who have received a stem cell transplant, with the hope of finding ways to reduce complications like Graft vs. Host Disease and improve recovery.
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.