Monitoring infection-fighting neutrophils after a stem cell transplant
In vivo Monitoring of Neutrophil Function in Patients after Stem Cell Transplant
The team will try new blood tests to see how well neutrophils — infection-fighting white blood cells — work in people recovering from a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262913 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
After a stem cell transplant, doctors usually count neutrophils but that number doesn't always show how well they stop fungal infections, so this project will take blood samples over time to measure neutrophil 'swarming' behavior in the lab and look for related biomarkers. Researchers will follow transplant patients, run functional neutrophil tests on their blood, and compare those results with whether patients develop invasive fungal infections. The work aims to turn lab measurements into practical tests that flag patients whose neutrophils are still not working properly despite normal counts, allowing more targeted prevention or treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who recently had a hematopoietic (blood) stem cell transplant and can provide blood samples during follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People who have not had a recent stem cell transplant or who cannot provide serial blood samples are not likely to be eligible or directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to blood tests that identify transplant patients at higher risk for dangerous fungal infections so clinicians can give preventive treatment or closer monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work indicates neutrophil swarming is important for antifungal defense, but using swarming measurements as a clinical biomarker in transplant patients is a new and unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Irimia, Daniel — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Irimia, Daniel
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.