How B cells and donor-specific antibodies change over time after a kidney transplant
Project 1: Evolution and Durability of allo(auto)immune B cell responses in organ transplant recipients
This project looks at how B cells and antibodies that attack donor organs develop and persist in people who have had a kidney transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332860 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have blood and immune cells collected over months to years so researchers can track donor-specific antibodies and the B cells that make them. The team will compare people with pre-existing donor-specific antibodies to those who develop new antibodies after transplant and study how these immune cells survive or change after treatments like B-cell depletion. Advanced lab tests will identify which B cells are producing harmful antibodies and how similar donor HLA is to your own HLA. The goal is to understand why some antibodies cause sudden rejection while others slowly damage the organ over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have received or are scheduled to receive a kidney transplant, particularly those with known donor-specific antibodies or suspected antibody-mediated rejection, would be ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without transplants or whose immune problems are unrelated to donor-specific antibodies are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who is at risk for antibody-mediated rejection and guide better prevention or treatment after kidney transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Previous attempts to remove B cells, such as with rituximab, have had mixed or temporary effects, so this research builds on limited prior success and seeks deeper mechanistic answers.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lund, Frances E. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lund, Frances E.
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.