Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
Official title: Microbial Biomarkers for Diagnosing and Predicting Infections in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11471530 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | May 24, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $740,403 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI184528-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471530 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Kidney transplant recipients who are under immunosuppression and monitored for infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without transplant-related infection risk or who do not provide samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
Kidney transplant recipients must stay on immune-suppressing drugs, which raises infection risks. This project aims to find microbial signals in stool, blood, and urine that could signal infections before they become severe. Researchers will develop tests for fecal SCFA, blood cfDNA, and urine cfDNA to diagnose and predict infections. The work uses patient samples over time to track changes and detect infections early. If successful, these biomarkers could guide earlier, personalized care for transplant patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier treatment or preventive strategies, potentially reducing infection-related complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies suggest microbial markers and cfDNA profiling can reflect infection risk and presence in transplant patients, with early signals showing promise.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, John Richard — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Lee, John Richard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
-
Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
-
Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
-
Optimizing a prehabilitation program for kidney transplant candidates on dialysis
A program to improve physical function and readiness for kidney transplant in people on dialysis is being developed and tested to help candidates stay healthier while they wait.
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.