HOPE liver transplant: reducing infections and cancer risk for HIV-positive recipients
Official title: Expanding HOPE Liver Transplantation: Understanding Opportunistic Infection and Cancer Risk
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11421494 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant aims to better understand why HIV-positive liver transplant recipients face higher infection and cancer risks and to improve safety and outcomes for these patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,581,257 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI138897-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421494 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
HIV-positive individuals undergoing liver transplantation or those at risk of transplantation complications may benefit.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in HIV-related transplant care or without consideration of opportunistic infections or cancer risk may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has HIV and needs a liver transplant, this project looks at why some recipients experience more infections and virus-related cancers after transplantation and how to prevent them. Researchers will analyze patient data, monitor immune and virologic factors, and test strategies to optimize donor selection and follow-up care. The goal is to translate findings into clearer guidelines that keep HIV-positive transplant patients healthier in the long term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: New knowledge could lead to safer transplant practices and better long-term survival for HIV-positive recipients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small studies showed feasibility but higher infection and cancer risks, indicating a need for more data to confirm improvements.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Durand, Christine Marie — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Durand, Christine Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting a specific CD38 form to protect livers from injury after transplant
A new approach tests a selective drug to protect donor livers from injury during transplant, potentially increasing usable organs and improving transplant outcomes.
-
Regulatory dendritic cell therapy to reduce immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplant
A new approach using donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells is being tested to help adults who receive a liver transplant live without relying on traditional immunosuppressive drugs.
-
Early liver transplant decisions for severe alcohol-related liver disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand how to best select and manage patients for early liver transplantation.
-
Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
A hospital-based program is studying whether offering an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis can save lives when standard medical treatment fails.
-
Early liver transplant for severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) to save lives
A Johns Hopkins program is testing whether giving an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who can’t be helped by standard treatments can save lives and reduce relapse risk.
-
ACCELERATE-PACE: Early Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand who can benefit from early liver transplantation and how best to manage care.
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.