Improving how we check donor kidneys for transplant
Automatic Wide-Field Optical Coherence Tomography for Assessment of Transplant Kidney Viability
This project is developing a new imaging method to help doctors better choose kidneys for people needing a transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159421 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people waiting for a kidney transplant face long waits and the risk of a failed transplant because it's hard to tell if a donor kidney is healthy enough. This project is creating an advanced imaging tool, called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), that can take detailed pictures of kidney tissue in real-time. By using this tool, doctors hope to get a clearer picture of a donor kidney's health, beyond what current methods can show. This could lead to more successful transplants and fewer kidneys being wasted.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who are currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant or those who may need one in the future could potentially benefit from this improved screening method.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require a kidney transplant would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could lead to more successful kidney transplants, reduce the waitlist time for patients, and save more lives.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary trials have shown that OCT imaging of human kidneys can predict post-transplant function and is safe to use in the operating room.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Xiaohui Frank — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Xiaohui Frank
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.