Helping the body accept a new kidney without strong medications
Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 inhibition for induction of hematopoietic chimerism and renal allograft tolerance without myelosuppression in nonhuman primates
This work explores new ways to help people who receive a kidney transplant avoid taking powerful anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11084499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Organ transplantation is a life-saving treatment, but it currently requires patients to take strong medications to prevent their body from rejecting the new organ. These medications can lead to serious side effects like infections and other health problems. Our goal is to find a reliable method to help the body accept a transplanted kidney without needing these lifelong drugs. We are exploring a new strategy that involves using specific inhibitors to encourage the body to accept donor cells, aiming to improve how well the new kidney is tolerated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to patients who are undergoing or will undergo kidney transplantation.
Not a fit: Patients not receiving organ transplants or those with conditions unrelated to organ rejection would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could free kidney transplant recipients from the need for lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, significantly improving their long-term health and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown success in achieving long-term, drug-free kidney transplant survival in humans using a similar approach, and this current work builds on a novel strategy tested in nonhuman primates.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kawai, Tatsuo — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kawai, Tatsuo
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.