Lung transplant recipients: exosome markers predicting early and intermediate graft problems
Official title: Lung transplant recipient exosome phenotypes and the risk of primary graft dysfunction and acute lung allograft dysfunction
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11387623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at tiny particles from the immune system in people who have had a lung transplant to see if they can predict early graft problems and later lung dysfunction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $413,561 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL162966-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Lung transplant recipients and potentially recent donors with available longitudinal follow-up data.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for transplantation or whose data do not include exosome analyses may not benefit.
What this research studies
After lung transplantation, early problems like primary graft dysfunction and later issues can threaten long-term success. The study examines exosomes, small vesicles in the blood, to find biomarkers that signal these risks. Researchers will analyze samples from patients and relate exosome patterns to clinical outcomes such as PGD and ALAD. The goal is to improve risk stratification and guide treatment decisions to protect the new lung. If successful, findings could lead to better monitoring and personalized care for transplant patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive better-tailored monitoring and treatments to reduce early graft injury and improve long-term lung function.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence linking exosome biomarkers to transplant outcomes, but this specific predictive approach is still being established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mulligan, Michael Scott — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mulligan, Michael Scott
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.
-
Understanding why a lung transplant sometimes fails early and how to tailor treatment
A study of people receiving lung transplants to find molecular differences that cause early graft failure and point to better, personalized therapies.
-
Targeting inflammation and alloimmunity in lung transplant recipients with clazakizumab
A study to see if blocking IL-6 with clazakizumab can improve survival and reduce rejection in people who have received a lung transplant.
-
Vaccination responses in lung transplant patients
This grant studies how people who have received lung transplants respond to COVID-19 vaccines and why their antibody responses may be limited.
-
The Post-Lung Transplant Aging in Immune Cells in Donor Lungs
This grant explores how aging donor lungs affect lung transplant outcomes by studying immune cells called alveolar macrophages.
-
Predictors of Lung Transplant Success and Costs
This study looks at what pre-transplant patient factors and biology predict a smooth recovery and lower costs after lung transplant.
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.