Nanoparticles to image and reset aged lymph nodes
Nano Immune-Imaging Core
This project develops tiny drug carriers and advanced imaging to deliver immune medicines into older patients' lymph nodes to help prevent organ transplant rejection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321229 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing nanoparticles that carry immune medicines directly to the lymph nodes and are building advanced imaging tools to watch how older immune cells travel to and act inside those nodes. They will make and fully characterize the nanoparticles (size, shape, charge, stability, and release behavior) and use immune imaging to map cell interactions in the lymph nodes. The team aims to reprogram the lymph node support cells to reduce activation of memory T cells and boost regulatory T cell formation, which could promote tolerance after heart transplants. Most work is preclinical and performed at Brigham and Women's Hospital and affiliated labs as part of a coordinated program.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People awaiting or who have received heart transplants, especially older adults whose immune memory increases rejection risk, would be the most relevant candidates for related clinical work.
Not a fit: People without transplant needs or whose conditions are unrelated to memory T cell–driven rejection are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower the chance of transplant rejection in older patients and reduce reliance on broad immunosuppression.
How similar studies have performed: Nanoparticle drug delivery and immune imaging have shown encouraging results in preclinical studies, but targeting and reprogramming aged lymph node stroma for transplant tolerance is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abdi, Reza — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Abdi, Reza
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.