New methods to help lung transplant patients avoid rejection
Official title: Project 1: Next Generation Mixed Chimerism Strategies to Induce Lung Allograft Tolerance in NHPs
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11035228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to help people who receive lung transplants accept their new lungs better, so they won't need to take strong medications for a long time, and it's being tested in monkeys first to make sure it's safe and effective before trying it in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 23, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $659,957 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI174967-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing or have undergone lung transplantation and are at risk of allograft rejection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for lung transplantation or those with contraindications to mixed chimerism techniques may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving lung transplant outcomes by developing strategies to induce tolerance in lung allograft recipients. The approach involves using mixed chimerism techniques, which have shown promise in other organ transplants, to help the body accept the new lung without the need for long-term immunosuppression. By modifying existing protocols, the research aims to enhance the body's regulatory mechanisms while minimizing harmful side effects. The study is conducted in nonhuman primates to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these new methods before potential application in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the survival rates and quality of life for lung transplant patients by reducing or eliminating the need for chronic immunosuppression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully induced tolerance in kidney transplants using similar mixed chimerism strategies, but this approach has not yet been effectively applied to lung transplants.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Madsen, Joren C — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Madsen, Joren C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Global TravEpiNet: Pregnant Travelers Health and Disease Prevention Network
This grant supports a national network to improve health and prevent infections among international travelers, with a special focus on pregnant travelers.
-
Soluble ST2 and the course of lung injury in ARDS
A doctor-scientist at a top hospital is studying how a molecule called soluble ST2 may influence how lung injury starts and heals in patients with ARDS and related conditions.
-
Role of airway macrophages in lung health and allergic disease
A doctor-scientist at a major hospital wants to study how immune cells in the airways develop and influence asthma and other airway diseases.
-
Global TravEpiNet: Understanding and Protecting US Travelers, including Pregnant Travelers
A large U.S. network studies international travelers, including pregnant travelers, to understand illness risks and reduce the spread of infections.
-
Gait speed from wearable sensors to guide ALS trials
A patient-friendly look at using wearable sensors to measure how fast people with ALS walk, to help run better ALS trials.
-
Determinants of Post-Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery
A large, multi-site effort aims to understand why some stroke survivors develop long-term cognitive problems and dementia, and how vascular health and pre-existing brain changes influence recovery.
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.