Longer preservation of donor kidneys for infants and young children using nanowarming and vitrification
Official title: Neonatal and Young Pediatric Kidney Preservation through Nanowarming and Vitrification
Funded at Expanse Bio LLC · NIH-11134587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a special freeze-and-nanowarm method to keep donor kidneys usable longer so infants and young children can get better matches.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Expanse Bio LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $991,414 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI186974-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11134587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and young children on the kidney transplant waitlist—especially those who face high discard rates due to size and timing—are the primary candidates who could benefit.
✕Less likely to help
People needing immediate living-donor transplants or those not relying on deceased-donor kidney logistics may not see direct benefit from this preservation technology.
What this research studies
If you or your child needs a kidney, this project works on freezing donor kidneys with protective chemicals (vitrification) and tiny iron nanoparticles that are heated by radio waves (nanowarming) to avoid ice damage during thawing. That could let kidneys be stored longer and shipped farther so babies and small children can wait for better size and immune matches nationwide. The team builds on earlier lab and Phase I results and is working to scale the approach to whole human kidneys. Longer preservation may also enable future approaches that reduce or avoid lifelong anti-rejection drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could increase the number of usable donor kidneys for infants and small children, reduce organ discard, and improve transplant timing and matching.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier lab and early-phase work with nanowarming and vitrification has shown promising results for tissues and small organs, but reliable whole-human kidney use remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
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Expanse Bio LLC
North Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weegman, Bradley P — Expanse Bio LLC
- Study coordinator: Weegman, Bradley P
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.