Detecting early lung transplant rejection with advanced imaging
Official title: Predicting the onset of chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients using hyperpolarized 129Xe imaging
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11109637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a special imaging technique to find early signs of lung rejection in people who have had a lung transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $703,513 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL151153-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11109637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be lung transplant recipients, especially those who are at risk for or in the early stages of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not received a lung transplant or who do not have chronic lung allograft dysfunction would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many lung transplant recipients face a condition called chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), which causes a gradual decline in lung function and is hard to treat once advanced. Currently, doctors rely on breathing tests, which can be unclear and don't always pinpoint the problem or differentiate between rejection and infection. This project aims to develop a new imaging method using hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI to detect CLAD earlier and more precisely. This advanced imaging can provide detailed, regional measurements of lung function, helping doctors identify issues before they become severe.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging method could allow for earlier diagnosis of chronic lung allograft dysfunction, potentially leading to more effective treatments and better outcomes for lung transplant recipients.
How similar studies have gone: While hyperpolarized xenon-129 MRI is an advanced technique, its specific application for early CLAD detection in this manner is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rizi, Rahim R — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Rizi, Rahim R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Immuno-Metabolic Drivers of Chronic Rejection after Lung Transplant
A doctor-researcher is studying why some lung transplant patients develop chronic rejection and what metabolic and immune signals cause this, with the goal of making BOS preventable or treatable.
-
Understanding how immune cells affect lung transplant rejection and dysfunction
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in the lungs might affect the health of lung transplant patients over time, with the goal of finding ways to help them avoid problems and improve their recovery.
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Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung 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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Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
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Understanding why a lung transplant sometimes fails early and how to tailor treatment
A study of people receiving lung transplants to find molecular differences that cause early graft failure and point to better, personalized therapies.
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.