How blood-flow injury at transplant affects lung transplant rejection

The Role of Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Lung Allograft Rejection

['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11334335

This project tests whether reducing early blood-flow injury and calming the immediate immune reaction after a lung transplant helps prevent rejection and improve outcomes for lung transplant recipients.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11334335 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This work focuses on the damage that happens when a donor lung loses and then regains blood flow during transplant and how that damage sparks immune cells to attack the graft. The team studies neutrophil-driven inflammation, a form of inflammatory cell death called necroptosis, and how macrophages clear dying cells (efferocytosis) to promote resolution. They are testing approaches to shift neutrophils toward less-inflammatory death and to target metabolic and innate immune pathways activated at reperfusion. Experiments use laboratory and preclinical models to identify strategies that could be translated into treatments given around the time of transplantation.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who have had or are scheduled to receive a lung transplant would be the most relevant candidates for trials or for donating samples to this research.

Not a fit: Patients without a lung transplant or those with late rejection driven mainly by long-term adaptive immune responses may not directly benefit from these early-injury-focused approaches.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce early graft injury and lower rates of rejection after lung transplant, improving survival and long-term lung function.

How similar studies have performed: Related approaches targeting innate immune injury have shown promise in preclinical transplant models but remain early and are not yet widely proven in human lung transplant patients.

Where this research is happening

SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.