Donor immune cells that cause early lung transplant and kidney injury

Donor nonclassical monocytes mediate primary graft dysfunction and remote organ injury following lung transplant surgery

NIH-funded research Northwestern University · NIH-11249143

This project looks for ways to stop donor immune cells that cause early lung transplant failure and harm other organs in people receiving lung transplants.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-11249143 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If I or a loved one needs a lung transplant, this research is trying to understand how donor immune cells called nonclassical monocytes cause early graft failure and damage to other organs like the kidneys. The team builds on earlier findings and uses experiments to track how recipient immune cells interact with donor cells and keep them trapped in other organs. They will study the cellular pathways that lead to this bystander injury to spot specific points where treatments could block the harm. The work aims to identify targets that could be turned into therapies to protect the new lung and other organs after transplant.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people undergoing lung transplantation or recently transplanted lung recipients who might be approached for sample donation or future therapy trials.

Not a fit: People who do not have a lung transplant or whose kidney problems come from unrelated causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that prevent early graft dysfunction and reduce kidney and other organ injury after lung transplantation.

How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory work suggests targeting nonclassical monocytes may reduce transplant-related injury, but translating these findings into clinical treatments is still novel and unproven.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.