Finding the best ways to prevent cancer in kidney transplant patients from Epstein-Barr Virus.
Official title: Determining Optimal Immunosuppression and Kidney Allocation Strategies for Mitigating Risks from Epstein-Barr Virus in Kidney Transplant Centers
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11107209 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different ways of lowering the immune system's activity can help kidney transplant patients who receive organs from donors with a virus called Epstein-Barr, and it hopes to find better ways to prevent complications after the transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 7, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $644,770 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI191110-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11107209 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are kidney transplant recipients who are EBV-seronegative and have received organs from EBV-seropositive donors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are EBV-seropositive or those who do not require kidney transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different immunosuppression strategies affect kidney transplant patients who receive organs from donors with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). It aims to understand the relationship between immunosuppression and the risk of developing post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) due to EBV infection. The study will also explore how prioritizing kidney allocation from EBV-seronegative donors to EBV-seronegative recipients can help reduce complications. By collaborating with multiple kidney transplant centers, the research seeks to gather comprehensive data to improve patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly lower the risk of cancer in kidney transplant patients by optimizing immunosuppression and kidney allocation strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in optimizing immunosuppression strategies to reduce cancer risks in transplant patients, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Potluri, Vishnu Sagar — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Potluri, Vishnu Sagar
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Optimizing Immunosuppression and EBV-Seronegative Kidney Allocation to Reduce PTLD Risk
This grant explores how adjusting immunosuppression and kidney donor matching by EBV status could lower the risk of EBV-related cancers in kidney transplant patients.
-
Personalized immunosuppression for kidney transplant patients
This study is working on a special tool to help find the best medication plan for people who have received a kidney transplant, aiming to reduce side effects and improve their overall health.
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Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
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Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
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Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
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.