Gene-modified donor kidneys using AAV during organ preservation
Genetic engineering of kidney allografts by ex vivo perfusion delivery of adeno-associated viral vectors
Seeing if treating donated kidneys with harmless AAV gene vectors during preservation can help people who need kidney transplants get longer-lasting donor kidneys.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326209 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you need a kidney transplant, this project is developing a way to treat donor kidneys outside the body with safe viral vectors that carry helpful genes while the organ is perfused and preserved. The treated organs are tested in a non-human primate transplant model under realistic immunosuppression to judge function and immune reaction. The team at Duke combines organ perfusion technology with AAV gene delivery to lower the organ's tendency to be rejected and to improve long-term performance. Success in these models would support moving the approach toward clinical use in people waiting for transplants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with end-stage kidney disease who are on or eligible for the kidney transplant waiting list would be the eventual candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: People without kidney failure or those who are not transplant candidates due to other medical issues would not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce donor kidneys that work better and last longer and reduce immune rejection, helping more people avoid dialysis and repeat transplants.
How similar studies have performed: Delivering genes to organs during ex vivo perfusion is an emerging approach with promising preclinical signals in some organs, but it has not yet been proven in human kidney transplants.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barbas, Andrew Serghios — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Barbas, Andrew Serghios
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.