Investigating how relaxin receptor signaling affects liver transplant injury and inflammation resolution
Official title: THE RELAXIN RECEPTOR GR/RXFP1 SIGNALING IN LIVER TRANSPLANT ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY AND THE INFLAMMATION RESOLUTION
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10906023 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special protein called relaxin might help improve liver transplant success by reducing inflammation and damage during the surgery, and it's designed for people who are interested in better outcomes after liver transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $390,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI155856-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10906023 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with end-stage liver disease or tumors of hepatic origin who are undergoing liver transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for liver transplantation or those with non-hepatic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how the relaxin receptor (RXFP1) signaling pathway influences liver transplant outcomes, particularly in the context of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The study aims to explore the inflammatory response that occurs during liver transplantation and how it can be resolved to improve patient outcomes. By using advanced mouse models that express human RXFP1, researchers will investigate the protective effects of recombinant human relaxin-2 on liver cells and its potential to enhance recovery after transplantation. The findings could lead to new therapeutic strategies that improve the success rates of liver transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved recovery and long-term outcomes for patients undergoing liver transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar approaches in animal models, but this specific application in human liver transplantation is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kupiec-Weglinski, Jerzy W — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Kupiec-Weglinski, Jerzy W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Innate and Adaptive Immunoregulation in Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
A liver transplant-focused project investigates how the body’s early and later immune responses affect transplant failure or success after reperfusion.
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Biomarker-guided reduction of immunosuppression after liver transplant
A multicenter trial tests whether using blood biomarkers to guide tapering of immunosuppression in adults with liver transplants can keep people healthy while lowering drug exposure.
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Understanding how liver disease progresses in people waiting for a liver transplant
A study will build a knowledge base that maps how liver disease worsens over time in patients on the transplant waitlist to improve care and planning.
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Biomarkers to tailor liver transplant immunosuppression
A multi-center study using blood biomarkers to guide how immunosuppressive drugs are given to liver transplant patients.
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Pre-Transplant Immune Health Marker Panel to Predict Liver Transplant Outcomes
A patient-facing biomarker test used before liver transplant to help doctors estimate the risk of early death after the transplant.
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Thinking skills and self-care after a liver transplant
This project follows people who received liver transplants to learn how changes in thinking and memory affect managing medicines, clinic visits, and overall health.
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.