Helping the human immune system accept pig organs
Project-003
Working on ways to teach a person's immune system to accept transplanted pig organs so they may need less toxic long‑term immune suppression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11462789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing two laboratory approaches to make human immune cells tolerant of pig tissues: creating mixed chimerism and transplanting a pig thymus that includes human thymic cells. Most work so far uses humanized mouse models and human cells, and the team is moving toward tests in larger animals that better mimic human transplant medicine. The group is also building a “hybrid” porcine thymus containing human thymic epithelial cells to improve how human T cells develop and respond. The goal is to reduce rejection and the high doses of immune‑suppressing drugs patients now need.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with end‑stage organ failure who need a transplant and are open to xenotransplantation trials or donating tissue for related research.
Not a fit: People who are not facing organ failure or who cannot undergo immune‑modifying procedures are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people receive pig organs with much lower doses of toxic immunosuppressive drugs and reduce organ shortages.
How similar studies have performed: Some xenotransplantation efforts have shown short‑term success in animals and a few compassionate human cases, but the hybrid porcine‑human thymus approach is novel and unproven in people.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sykes, Megan — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Sykes, Megan
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.