Exosome patterns in lung transplant recipients and early graft injury risk
Lung transplant recipient exosome phenotypes and the risk of primary graft dysfunction and acute lung allograft dysfunction
This project looks at tiny particles called exosomes in people who had lung transplants to identify patterns that signal early graft injury like primary graft dysfunction or acute lung allograft dysfunction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170442 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
After lung transplant, researchers will collect blood and lung fluid samples from recipients at set time points. They will isolate and analyze exosomes — small vesicles released by cells — to profile their molecular contents and surface markers. Those exosome patterns will be compared between people who do and do not develop primary graft dysfunction (PGD) or acute lung allograft dysfunction (ALAD), and combined with clinical and donor data to build risk models. The work aims to clarify mechanisms of early graft injury and improve risk stratification during the early post-transplant period.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who have received a lung transplant (or are undergoing transplant follow-up) and can provide blood and possibly lung fluid samples for testing.
Not a fit: People who have not had a lung transplant or who cannot provide the required samples are not likely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors identify transplant recipients at high risk for early graft problems so they can tailor monitoring and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Early research suggests exosome-based biomarkers can reflect immune and injury processes, but using them to predict PGD or ALAD after lung transplant remains an emerging and unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mulligan, Michael Scott — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mulligan, Michael Scott
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 below.