Network to improve long-term outcomes after lung transplant

Lung Transplant Clinical Trial Network (LT-CTN)

NIH-funded research Duke University · NIH-11144415

This project is testing whether adding an oral drug called belumosudil to standard post-transplant medicines can lower lung inflammation and help lung transplant recipients keep their new lungs working longer.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDuke University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Durham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11144415 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This effort links twelve high-volume adult and pediatric lung transplant centers across North America to run coordinated clinical trials. Participants would continue their usual anti-rejection medicines and some would also receive the oral ROCK2 inhibitor belumosudil. Doctors will monitor lung function, signs of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), and inflammatory markers in lung fluid over time. The plan builds on benefits seen with belumosudil in bone marrow transplant patients who developed similar lung problems.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults and children who have received a lung transplant and are on standard post-transplant immunosuppression, especially those early after transplant or with prior acute rejection or airway inflammation.

Not a fit: People who have not had a lung transplant, who have contraindications to belumosudil, or whose lung problems are not related to chronic allograft dysfunction are unlikely to benefit from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce chronic rejection and help lung transplant recipients live longer with better breathing and lung function.

How similar studies have performed: Related use of belumosudil showed clinical benefit in graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplant, including pulmonary bronchiolitis, but using it to prevent CLAD in lung transplant recipients is a newer application.

Where this research is happening

Durham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Lung InjuryAcute Pulmonary Injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.