Immune genes and transplant outcomes across different ancestries
Immunogenetics of Outcomes Disparities After Allogeneic HCT
This project looks at immune-related genes in donors and recipients to help people getting donor stem-cell transplants, especially across racial and ethnic groups.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11318970 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will compare DNA from transplant patients and their donors to find immune-gene differences linked to relapse and survival. They will focus on the NKG2 ligand/receptor pathway and look for ancestry-specific genetic changes that affect gene expression and outcomes. The team will analyze data across African, Hispanic, Asian, and European American groups to see which genetic features explain survival gaps. Results aim to inform better donor selection and risk prediction to reduce racial disparities after transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people planning to have or who have had an allogeneic hematopoietic cell (stem-cell) transplant for blood cancers and their potential donors, particularly from African, Hispanic, Asian, or European ancestry groups.
Not a fit: People who are not undergoing donor stem-cell transplants or whose donor-recipient pairs and genetic data are not included would be unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more personalized donor selection and risk predictions that reduce relapse and improve survival after allogeneic stem-cell transplant, especially for underrepresented racial groups.
How similar studies have performed: Past work shows HLA and some immune-gene differences affect transplant outcomes and the investigators have preliminary data on NKG2 variants, but using ancestry-specific NKG2 profiles to guide donor choice is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petersdorf, Effie W — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Petersdorf, Effie W
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.