Improving liver transplant organ allocation policies based on age and location differences.
Official title: Estimating the Causal Effect of Liver Allocation Policy Reflecting the Heterogeneity from Age and Geography
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-10887536 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how liver transplant organs are given out, especially considering the ages and locations of patients, to help create a fairer system that ensures everyone has a better chance of getting the transplant they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $148,658 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HS029195-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10887536 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with chronic liver diseases who are on the waiting list for liver transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on the liver transplant waiting list or do not have chronic liver diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how liver transplant organs are allocated, focusing on the differences in age and geographic location of patients. It aims to develop a fairer and more efficient organ allocation policy by analyzing observational data to estimate the causal effects of current policies. The study will utilize advanced statistical methods to emulate randomized trials, which are typically not feasible in this context. The goal is to address disparities in organ allocation that can lead to unequal access for patients in need of transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more equitable liver transplant policies, improving access to transplants for patients across different demographics.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been incremental changes in organ allocation policies, this research aims to provide a novel approach to understanding and improving these policies through causal inference methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tanaka, Tomohiro — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Tanaka, Tomohiro
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.