Helping the immune system accept kidney transplants
The Risks and Opportunities of Homeostatic Repopulation
Testing ways to help people who receive kidney transplants keep their new organ by reducing immune rejection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11331279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a rhesus monkey kidney transplant model to learn how the immune system repopulates and reacts to a donor organ. Researchers will study T cell and B cell responses, how cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection interacts with transplant immunity, and strategies to promote donor-specific tolerance. They will apply advanced T and B cell receptor sequencing and examine lymph node immune changes to track effects of therapies at the cellular level. Results are intended to guide new approaches that could later be tried in human kidney transplant patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are candidates for or recent recipients of kidney transplants and who are concerned about rejection risk.
Not a fit: People without kidney disease or those not facing transplantation are unlikely to benefit directly from this animal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to therapies that lower rejection risk and reduce the need for long-term, broad immunosuppression after kidney transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Previous nonhuman primate transplant studies have guided several successful clinical trials, though the specific focus on receptor repertoires and CMV-alloimmunity is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knechtle, Stuart Johnston — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Knechtle, Stuart Johnston
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.