How immune cells change after a kidney transplant
Official title: Monocyte and Macrophage Functional Evolution in Kidney Transplantation
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11187001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing ways to block specific immune cell signals to help transplanted kidneys last longer for people who receive kidney transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $545,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK141374-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11187001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have received or are scheduled to receive a kidney transplant, especially those at higher risk of rejection or ischemia-reperfusion injury, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without kidney transplants or whose kidney problems are unrelated to transplant immune responses are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
This research looks at how recipient monocytes enter a transplanted kidney and then change into different types of macrophages that can drive rejection or long-term scarring. In animal work, blocking a receptor called AXL early after transplant reduced rejection, and blocking a protein called AIF-1 during ischemia reduced later fibrosis. The team will map the timing and roles of these cells and proteins to find when and how interventions might work. The goal is to identify targets that could be turned into treatments to protect transplanted kidneys.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies that reduce early rejection and long-term scarring, helping transplanted kidneys survive longer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical (animal) studies showed that inhibiting AXL or AIF-1 reduced rejection and fibrosis, but these approaches have not yet been proven in human patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luo, Xunrong — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Luo, Xunrong
Related research
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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.