Making pig-to-human organ transplants safer
Project-002
This work aims to help people who need organ transplants by finding ways to prevent the immune system from rejecting pig organs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11462788 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using genetically modified pigs and special bone marrow delivery methods to teach the immune system to accept pig cells. In animal models (baboons) they have created mixed blood cell populations that reduce anti-pig antibodies and prolong survival of pig tissue without ongoing drugs. The team is refining those techniques to overcome barriers that have blocked pig-to-primate graft acceptance. The goal is to move these advances closer to treatments that could be offered to people who need organs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with end-stage organ failure who lack a suitable human donor or who are willing to consider experimental xenotransplantation approaches would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not need a transplant or who cannot undergo bone-marrow based procedures would not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow pig organ transplants to survive longer and reduce the need for lifelong immune-suppressing drugs, increasing the pool of available organs.
How similar studies have performed: Related methods have produced promising results in animal models and some allogeneic (human-to-human) tolerance work, but pig-to-human approaches remain experimental.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sykes, Megan — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Sykes, Megan
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 below.