Major immune-friendly stem cell transplants to prevent graft rejection
Official title: Major histocompatibility complex gene editing to prevent hematopoietic stem cell graft rejection
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11392480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing approach to safer stem cell transplants by using gene editing to reduce immune rejection and improve chances of engraftment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $701,040 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL180336-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392480 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with blood diseases who are candidates for HSCT, especially those without fully matched donors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing stem cell transplantation or those not eligible for haploidentical transplant approaches.
What this research studies
This project looks at improving hematopoietic stem cell transplants by combining methods that lower immune attack on donor cells with gentler conditioning of the patient. Researchers will study how to silence mismatched HLA genes in donor grafts to prevent rejection while preserving the patient’s ability to fight infections. The work uses human cell and graft models to test gene-editing strategies in the context of haploidentical transplants. If successful, these strategies could mean more patients have access to HSCT with fewer complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This research could lead to safer stem cell transplants with fewer complications and better survival for patients needing HSCT.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in reducing graft rejection with graft engineering and targeted conditioning, but this approach is still being evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Hojun — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Li, Hojun
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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.