Engineered kidney 'chip' to study antibody-driven rejection and how the body adapts
Official title: Engineering AMR-on-a-chip to probe rejection and accommodation pathways
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11439084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A kidney-rejection research grant is developing a miniaturized, human cell–based chip to model how antibodies cause rejection and how kidneys may adapt.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $162,792 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202489-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11439084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with end-stage renal disease awaiting or having a kidney transplant could benefit from improved understanding and new protective strategies.
✕Less likely to help
This model does not involve direct patient testing and may not immediately change standard care.
What this research studies
This project builds a glomerulus-on-a-chip using human stem cell–derived kidney cells to recreate the filtering unit. It adds immune components and antibodies to mimic antibody-mediated rejection seen after kidney transplants. The team will test how complement pathways affect rejection and whether targeted approaches can offer temporary protection in this model. The work aims to provide a controllable human-relevant system to study AMR mechanisms and potential interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could speed the development of therapies to prevent or lessen antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data show that organ-on-a-chip models can mimic kidney barriers and immune interactions, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwun, Jean — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Kwun, Jean
Related research
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Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
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Targeting graft T cells to reduce transplant rejection
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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.