Creating new ways to help the body accept transplanted organs
Engineering synthetic cellular crosstalk for transplantation tolerance
This study is exploring a new way to help your body accept transplanted organs without needing to take immune-suppressing drugs for a long time, by using special immune cells to create a friendly relationship with the new organ.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11015862 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving organ transplantation outcomes by developing a method to help the body accept transplanted organs without the need for long-term immune-suppressive drugs. It aims to harness specialized immune cells, known as regulatory T cells, to specifically target and suppress the immune response against the transplanted organ. By using engineered vaccines that enhance communication between these immune cells and antigen-presenting cells, the goal is to create a lasting tolerance to the transplant. This approach could potentially extend the lifespan of transplanted organs and improve patient quality of life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing or are candidates for organ transplantation.
Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for organ transplantation or those with conditions that preclude successful transplantation may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the need for lifelong immunosuppressive therapy in organ transplant recipients.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using engineered immune cells for improving transplant acceptance, indicating that this approach has potential based on previous successes.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ma, Leyuan — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Ma, Leyuan
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.