Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
Official title: XFIT: An Exercise-based Frailty Intervention in Lung Transplant Candidates
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11550096 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $776,775 |
| NIH project number | 4R61HL169183-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11550096 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults awaiting lung transplantation who show signs of frailty or reduced physical function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without frailty or those not able to participate in an exercise program may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts proven frailty interventions for older adults to lung transplant candidates, aiming to improve strength, body composition, and activity levels. Participants would engage in a structured exercise plan and healthy lifestyle changes under supervision, with monitoring of physical and health-related outcomes. The study is designed to see if addressing frailty before transplant can lower waitlist risks and improve post-transplant recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to better survival and quality of life for lung transplant candidates by reducing frailty.
How similar studies have gone: Previous frailty interventions in older adults show improvements in strength and function, but this specific lung transplant setting is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Singer, Jonathan Paul — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Singer, Jonathan Paul
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Exercise program to reduce frailty in people awaiting lung transplant
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program to help people who are frail while waiting for a lung transplant get stronger and more active.
-
Exercise program to improve health in lung transplant candidates
This study is testing a special exercise program designed to help people waiting for a lung transplant feel stronger and healthier, so they can have better outcomes before and after their surgery.
-
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.
-
Targeting inflammation and alloimmunity in lung transplant recipients with clazakizumab
A study to see if blocking IL-6 with clazakizumab can improve survival and reduce rejection in people who have received a lung transplant.
-
Vaccination responses in lung transplant patients
This grant studies how people who have received lung transplants respond to COVID-19 vaccines and why their antibody responses may be limited.
-
The Post-Lung Transplant Aging in Immune Cells in Donor Lungs
This grant explores how aging donor lungs affect lung transplant outcomes by studying immune cells called alveolar macrophages.
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.