Long-term antibody damage to kidney transplants
Official title: Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection of Kidney Allografts
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11301834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how very high levels of antibodies that target a donor kidney can cause either fast rejection or slow scarring in people with kidney transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $646,362 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167939-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11301834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have received a kidney transplant, especially those with donor-specific antibodies or prior signs of antibody-mediated rejection, are most directly relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without a kidney transplant or whose transplant problems are driven by non-antibody causes may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers use a new animal model that lacks a gene called CCR5 to mimic very high donor-specific antibody (DSA) responses after a kidney transplant. They measure antibody levels, examine graft tissue, and analyze which immune cells (including NK cells, monocytes, and macrophages) enter the transplanted kidney. The team compares cases where antibodies cause rapid rejection to cases where antibodies slowly produce tubular fibrosis and glomerular injury that lead to late graft failure. Molecular tests and gene-expression studies on the grafts help pinpoint immune pathways linked to acute versus chronic antibody-driven damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that prevent or reduce antibody-driven kidney transplant damage and help transplants last longer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and clinical research has linked donor-specific antibodies and NK cells to transplant rejection, but this CCR5-deficient model and its emphasis on chronic fibrosis represent a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fairchild, Robert L — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Fairchild, Robert L
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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.