Evaluating a new biomarker panel to predict liver transplant recipient mortality
Official title: Multi-Center Validation and Biologic Assessment of a Novel Pre-Transplant Biomarker Panel to Predict Liver Transplant Recipient Mortality
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-10882689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to predict which liver transplant patients might face more risks after their surgery, so doctors can better prioritize who gets a transplant first.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $748,049 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK137222-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10882689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients listed for liver transplantation who may have underlying immune dysfunction or severe cirrhosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for liver transplantation or those with stable immune function are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to validate a novel biomarker panel called the Liver Immune Frailty Index (LIFI) that can predict the risk of mortality in patients receiving liver transplants. By measuring specific biomarkers before transplantation, the study seeks to identify patients who may have a higher risk of complications or death shortly after the procedure. The research will involve multiple centers to ensure a diverse patient population and robust results. If successful, this approach could help prioritize liver transplants for those most likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the selection process for liver transplant candidates, potentially reducing early post-transplant mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using biomarker panels to predict transplant outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lunsford, Keri Elizabeth — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lunsford, Keri Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Innate and Adaptive Immunoregulation in Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
A liver transplant-focused project investigates how the body’s early and later immune responses affect transplant failure or success after reperfusion.
-
Biomarker-guided reduction of immunosuppression after liver transplant
A multicenter trial tests whether using blood biomarkers to guide tapering of immunosuppression in adults with liver transplants can keep people healthy while lowering drug exposure.
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Understanding how liver disease progresses in people waiting for a liver transplant
A study will build a knowledge base that maps how liver disease worsens over time in patients on the transplant waitlist to improve care and planning.
-
Biomarkers to tailor liver transplant immunosuppression
A multi-center study using blood biomarkers to guide how immunosuppressive drugs are given to liver transplant patients.
-
Pre-Transplant Immune Health Marker Panel to Predict Liver Transplant Outcomes
A patient-facing biomarker test used before liver transplant to help doctors estimate the risk of early death after the transplant.
-
Thinking skills and self-care after a liver transplant
This project follows people who received liver transplants to learn how changes in thinking and memory affect managing medicines, clinic visits, and overall health.
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.