Improving kidney transplant decisions using artificial intelligence
Official title: Optimizing Preimplantation Kidney Transplant Biopsy Interpretation with Artificial Intelligence Assistance - Resubmission - 1
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10980817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on using smart computer technology to help doctors better understand kidney biopsy results, so more kidneys from donors can be safely used for transplants, which could save lives and help patients waiting for a transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $735,047 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK138067-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals on the kidney transplant waitlist who may benefit from receiving a kidney from a deceased donor.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on the kidney transplant waitlist or those who are not suitable candidates for kidney transplantation will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the interpretation of kidney biopsies before transplantation by utilizing advanced artificial intelligence techniques. Many kidneys from deceased donors are discarded due to uncertain biopsy results, but this project seeks to develop a reliable AI system that can provide accurate interpretations, even when expert pathologists are not available. By analyzing digital images of kidney biopsies, the AI will help identify which kidneys are suitable for transplantation, potentially saving lives and reducing waitlist mortality. The goal is to ensure that more usable kidneys are successfully transplanted, improving outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of viable kidneys available for transplantation, leading to better patient outcomes and reduced mortality rates on the transplant waitlist.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in using AI for medical imaging and pathology, indicating that this approach could be effective in improving kidney transplant outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Segev, Dorry L. — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Segev, Dorry L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
-
Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
-
Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
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.