Molecular HLA matching to help kidneys last longer after transplant
Official title: Improving Kidney Transplant Outcomes by Using Molecular-Level HLA Matching in Allocation
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11361992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether matching donor and recipient HLA at the molecular level helps people who receive deceased-donor kidney transplants keep their new kidneys working longer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $693,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139240-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People listed for a deceased-donor kidney transplant, especially those with uncommon HLA profiles or at risk for high molecular mismatch, would be most affected by these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients receiving living-donor transplants or those not on the deceased-donor waitlist are unlikely to be directly affected by this allocation-focused project.
What this research studies
The team will use national transplant records and recent advances in precise HLA testing to build detailed simulation models comparing current antigen-level allocation to molecular-level matching strategies. They will estimate how many additional years of graft function, and changes in rejection and donor-specific antibody rates, each strategy might produce. The project will examine trade-offs between giving more people moderately better matches versus giving fewer people exceptional matches, and how those choices affect access for people with uncommon HLA profiles. Results are intended to inform allocation policy so transplants last longer and access is fairer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to allocation rules that extend how long transplanted kidneys function and improve fairness for patients with uncommon HLA types.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows molecular HLA matching can reduce new donor-specific antibodies and antibody-mediated rejection and is associated with better graft survival, but policy-level modeling of allocation impacts is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mankowski, Michal a — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Mankowski, Michal a
Related research
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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.