Complement's effect on immune cells after kidney transplant
Complement regulates macrophage and platelet function in kidney transplants
Looks at whether changing parts of the complement system can make immune cells and platelets cause less damage in people who receive kidney transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169968 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear how complement proteins, especially C1q and downstream fragments, change the behavior of immune cells like macrophages and platelets after a kidney transplant. The team will analyze blood and biopsy samples from transplant patients and run laboratory experiments and animal studies to see what happens when C1q is left intact versus when complement activation is blocked. They will compare people treated with C1 inhibitor or who experience delayed graft function to those who do not, and test immune and platelet responses in controlled lab tests. The aim is to learn whether shifting complement activity can encourage healing instead of inflammation in the new kidney.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people receiving a kidney transplant, especially those at risk for antibody-mediated rejection or delayed graft function.
Not a fit: People without kidney transplants or whose kidney problems are from non-immune causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce transplant-related inflammation and improve short- and long-term kidney graft health by guiding complement-targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Other trials targeting complement (for example C5 or C1 inhibitors) have shown promise in reducing transplant injury, but the specific non-inflammatory roles of C1q in transplant settings remain less explored.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baldwin, William M — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Baldwin, William M
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.