Culturally sensitive APOL1 genetic testing for living kidney donors
Integrating a culturally competent APOL1 genetic testing program into living donor evaluation
This project provides culturally tailored APOL1 genetic testing and an AI chatbot to help people of African ancestry who are thinking about donating a kidney make informed choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110334 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are considering donating a kidney and have African ancestry, this program offers APOL1 genetic testing as part of the donor evaluation with counseling designed to respect cultural concerns. You would get access to a clinical chatbot called Gia that explains APOL1 results in plain language and can answer common questions any time. The team will also train transplant clinicians to have better conversations about APOL1 so you get consistent, supportive counseling. The goal is to reduce confusion and help you make a choice about donation that fits your values and safety concerns.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults of African ancestry who are being evaluated as potential living kidney donors.
Not a fit: People who are not considering kidney donation, who are not of African ancestry, or who decline genetic testing are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give prospective donors clearer, culturally appropriate genetic information and reduce decisional conflict around donation.
How similar studies have performed: Prior use of clinical chatbots and tailored genetic counseling has shown promise for improving patient understanding, but integrating APOL1 testing into donor evaluations in a culturally competent way is a new application.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Agrawal, Akansha — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Agrawal, Akansha
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.