NIH-funded research Fellowship grant

Investigating immune responses in kidney transplant rejection

Official title: Single Cell Analysis of Alloreactive CD8+ T Cells in Kidney Transplant Rejection

Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11248001 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how certain immune cells in your body might affect the success of kidney transplants, especially if you've had previous infections, to help find better treatments that could reduce the need for long-term medication after surgery.

More Transplant research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Cincinnati
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cincinnati, United States)
Project startNovember 22, 2022
Project endJuly 21, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$53,974
NIH project number5F30AI167482-04
Project IDNIH-11248001 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have received a kidney transplant and are experiencing or at risk of transplant rejection.

Less likely to help

Patients who have not undergone kidney transplantation or those with stable graft function are unlikely to benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how specific immune cells, known as CD8+ T cells, contribute to the rejection of kidney transplants. By analyzing these cells from patients experiencing rejection, the study aims to uncover how prior infections may influence the immune response against transplanted kidneys. The approach involves examining tissue samples from both human and mouse models to identify patterns in T cell behavior and gene expression. This could lead to more effective treatments that minimize the need for lifelong immunosuppression.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing kidney transplant rejection, enhancing patient outcomes and graft survival.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding T cell responses in transplant rejection, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Cincinnati
    Cincinnati, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Shi, Tiffany — University of Cincinnati
  • Study coordinator: Shi, Tiffany

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • 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.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11449432

  • Investigating T cells involved in kidney transplant rejection

    This study is looking at how certain immune cells called CD8+ T cells play a role in kidney transplant rejection, especially in patients who have had past infections, to help find better ways to prevent rejection and improve transplant success.

    NIH research University of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11232890

  • Using a new type of immune cell therapy to prevent and treat kidney transplant rejection

    This study is exploring a new type of immune cell that could help prevent kidney transplant rejection by stopping harmful antibodies, and it's designed for people who have received a kidney transplant and want to improve their chances of success.

    NIH research Ohio State University · Columbus, UNITED STATES · NIH-10653007

  • 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.

    NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11436797

  • 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.

    NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11471530

  • 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.

    NIH research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · New York, United States · NIH-11442411

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.