Improving immune response to promote organ transplant acceptance
Official title: Enhancing the TCR-induced Response of HLA-E-restricted Regulatory CD8 T Cells to Promote Allograft Tolerance
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11117061 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help your body accept transplanted organs by boosting special immune cells that can calm down the immune response, and it's designed for people who have received or are considering an organ transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 14, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,893 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI182491-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11117061 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing or have undergone organ transplantation and are at risk of organ rejection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for organ transplantation or those with conditions that preclude them from receiving a transplant may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing a specific type of immune cell, known as regulatory CD8 T cells, which can help the body accept transplanted organs by suppressing harmful immune responses. The researchers aim to develop a treatment that uses specially designed molecules to activate these cells, allowing them to target and eliminate the immune cells that attack the transplanted organ. By studying how these regulatory cells function, the team hopes to create a therapy that can be applied in clinical settings to improve transplant outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved organ transplant acceptance and reduced risk of rejection for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using similar approaches to enhance transplant tolerance, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, John Yongjoon — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Choi, John Yongjoon
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.