Improving kidney preservation for infants and young children
Official title: Neonatal and Young Pediatric Kidney Preservation through Nanowarming and Vitrification
Funded at Expanse Bio LLC · NIH-11011285 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to keep kidneys safe for babies and young kids who need a transplant, using special technology to prevent damage during freezing and thawing, so they can find the best match and have a better chance of a successful surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Expanse Bio LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $999,705 |
| NIH project number | 9R44AI186974-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11011285 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children who are on the kidney transplant waitlist.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infants or young children, or those who do not require kidney transplantation, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the preservation of kidneys for infants and young children awaiting transplantation. By utilizing advanced nanowarming technology and cryoprotective agents, the team aims to prevent damage during the freezing and thawing processes, which can lead to organ discard. The goal is to extend the viability of kidneys, allowing for better matching between donors and recipients, ultimately increasing the chances of successful transplants for young patients. This innovative approach could also facilitate the use of additional kidneys for older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the availability of transplantable kidneys for infants and young children, improving their chances of receiving life-saving transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using similar cryopreservation techniques, but this specific approach with nanowarming technology is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Expanse Bio LLC
North Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weegman, Bradley P — Expanse Bio LLC
- Study coordinator: Weegman, Bradley P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neonatal and Young Kidneys: Safer, Longer Kidney Storage with Nanowarming and Glassy Preservation
A project to help save kidneys for babies and young children by using advanced cooling and warming methods that protect the organs for longer storage before transplantation.
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Longer-lasting kidney storage using nature-inspired cold techniques
This project is developing ways to keep donated kidneys safely preserved for a week or more so more people waiting for transplants can get better-matched organs.
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Longer preservation of donor kidneys for infants and young children using nanowarming and vitrification
This project uses a special freeze-and-nanowarm method to keep donor kidneys usable longer so infants and young children can get better matches.
-
Preserving ovarian tissue without ice for fertility in young cancer survivors
This study is exploring a new way to safely freeze ovarian tissue without ice, to help young cancer survivors keep their ability to have children and maintain hormonal health after their treatments.
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New methods for preserving kidneys for transplantation
This study is looking at new ways to keep kidneys healthy for longer by cooling them down really well, which could help more people get the kidney transplants they need and find better matches with donors.
-
Developing a system to test ovarian damage from cancer treatments
This study is looking at a new way to see how chemotherapy affects women's ovaries, using a special system that keeps the ovaries healthy while testing the impact of a common cancer drug, so we can get better information about how treatments might affect fertility.
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.