COVID-19 vaccine responses in kidney transplant patients taking mycophenolate
Official title: Systems analyses of induction and maintenance of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in kidney transplant recipients receiving mycophenolate mofetil immunotherapy
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11283983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the anti-rejection drug mycophenolate affects COVID-19 vaccine protection in people with kidney transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $678,904 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI179524-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11283983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with a kidney transplant who are currently taking mycophenolate and are willing to provide blood samples and attend follow-up visits around vaccination.
✕Less likely to help
People without a kidney transplant, not taking mycophenolate, or unwilling to provide blood samples or follow visit schedules are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would have blood samples taken before and after COVID-19 vaccination so researchers can measure antibodies, B cells, T cells, and other immune signals. The team will compare how well immune responses form and last in kidney transplant recipients on mycophenolate versus patterns seen when mycophenolate is timed or temporarily modified. Advanced lab tests and systems-level analyses will be used to map which parts of the immune system are weakened by the drug. Follow-up visits over months will track durability of vaccine responses and relate immune findings to real-world protection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways (timing or temporary adjustments to mycophenolate) to improve COVID-19 vaccine protection for kidney transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller studies have suggested temporarily holding mycophenolate can raise antibody responses after vaccination, but comprehensive, systems-level data in kidney transplant recipients remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reed, Elaine F — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Reed, Elaine F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how kidney transplant patients respond to COVID-19 vaccination while on specific immunosuppressive therapy
This study is looking at how kidney transplant patients taking a medication called mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) respond to COVID-19 vaccines, and whether stopping this medication before getting vaccinated could help them build a stronger immune response and better protect them against the virus.
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Investigating immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in children with multiple sclerosis on immunotherapy
This study is looking at how different treatments for multiple sclerosis affect how well kids respond to COVID-19 vaccines, so we can better understand how to protect them.
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How different COVID-19 vaccines shape immune responses
This project compares immune reactions after mRNA and adenoviral COVID-19 vaccines to learn how long protection lasts and why some people get breakthrough infections or side effects.
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Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
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Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
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Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
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.