How lung B cells and antibodies change after a lung transplant
Official title: Project 3: Evolution, dynamics and durability of B cell and antibody responses in lung transplantation
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11332864 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how B cells that live in the lung and the antibodies they make change over time in people who have had lung transplants and how they respond to infections, vaccines, or donor and self antigens.
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 start | April 16, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $365,759 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI181105-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332864 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are current or prospective lung transplant recipients who can provide blood and lung samples and attend clinic follow-up visits.
✕Less likely to help
People without lung disease or transplant history, or those unable or unwilling to provide lung samples or come to clinic, are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will collect blood and lung fluid or tissue from lung transplant patients before and after transplant and after vaccinations or respiratory infections to track lung-resident memory B cells and antibody levels. They will identify which antigens those B cells recognize, including donor (allo-) and self (auto-) antigens, and map how these cells are selected and recalled. The team will compare responses to respiratory pathogens such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 to see similarities and differences. Results aim to clarify whether lung‑resident B cells help protect against infections or contribute to harmful antibody responses in transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict or prevent harmful antibody responses after lung transplant and guide better vaccine timing and strategies for transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and early human work has shown lung‑resident memory B cells exist and respond to respiratory infections, but applying this knowledge to allo- and auto-antibody responses in lung transplant patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Randall, Troy D — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Randall, Troy D
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Body composition and outcomes after lung transplant
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Objective lung-donor quality tools to expand the transplant pool
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-
Bmp-Cx40 signaling to keep lung blood vessels calm after transplant
A study aims to keep blood vessels in transplanted lungs stable by boosting a specific signaling pathway to reduce injury after transplant.
-
Complement inhibition to protect transplanted lungs from early injury
A small early trial tests whether a drug that blocks a key part of the immune system can prevent damage to new lungs right after transplant.
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Phase 1 trial of siltuximab for antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplant
A early-stage study tests whether siltuximab can help people who have antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplantation.
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Targeted delivery of immune-suppressing agents to the lung graft to prevent rejection
A study at Northwestern University will test a new, targeted approach to prevent lung transplant rejection by delivering immune-suppressing drugs directly to the graft while blocking early signals that trigger rejection.
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.