How donor DNA affects immune responses in blood stem cell transplants
Official title: Donor DNMT3a-mediated regulation of Graft-vs-Host-Disease and the Graft-vs-Tumor effect in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11073092 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in DNA from donor cells can affect the immune system during stem cell transplants, with the goal of finding better ways to help patients with serious cancers avoid complications while still fighting the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $171,720 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL168154-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073092 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for aggressive cancers or certain non-malignant disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation or those with conditions unrelated to GVHD or GVT effects may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of donor DNA methylation in regulating immune responses during allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). By studying mice with specific genetic modifications, the research aims to understand how changes in DNA can influence the balance between beneficial anti-tumor effects and harmful graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). The approach includes advanced techniques like whole genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA sequencing to analyze the immune response at a molecular level. This could lead to new strategies for improving transplant outcomes for patients with aggressive malignancies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies that enhance anti-tumor immunity while reducing the risk of graft-vs-host disease in transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of DNA methylation in immune responses, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ktena, Yiouli — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ktena, Yiouli
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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ChronicGVHD: How it happens and new ways to treat it
A large NIH grant is funding research on chronic graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant, with a focus on the lungs and other organs, to improve outcomes for patients.
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Propagation of GVHD through CD4+ T-cell recognition of gut bacteria
Researchers are studying how a patient’s immune cells recognize gut bacteria after stem cell transplant to better understand and manage graft-versus-host disease.
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How donor DNA affects immune responses in blood stem cell transplants
This study is looking at how changes in donor DNA can help improve the success of stem cell transplants by boosting the body's ability to fight cancer while lowering the chances of complications, and it's aimed at helping patients who are getting these transplants.
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Understanding and treating chronic graft-versus-host disease and its lung form, bronchiolitis obliterans
This project works to find new treatments that block immune and metabolic drivers of chronic GVHD and bronchiolitis obliterans in people after allogeneic stem cell transplant.
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Understanding and treating chronic graft-versus-host disease
This study is looking at how chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) affects the lungs after a stem cell transplant, and it aims to find new ways to help patients by understanding the immune cells involved in this condition.
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Understanding how Galectin-3 affects Graft vs. Host Disease and Graft vs. Tumor responses
This study is looking at how a protein called Galectin-3 affects the immune responses in patients who have received a stem cell transplant, with the hope of finding ways to reduce complications like Graft vs. Host Disease and improve recovery.
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.