New methods to help the body accept transplanted hearts
Project 3: Enhanced Costimulation Blockade to Achieve Clinically Relevant Heart Allograft Tolerance
This study is exploring new ways to help people who receive heart transplants accept their new heart without needing to take strong medications for the rest of their lives, which could mean fewer side effects and a lower chance of rejection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10889225 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative strategies to achieve heart allograft tolerance, which means helping the body accept a transplanted heart without the need for lifelong immunosuppression. The approach involves using a combination of therapies that target specific immune pathways to promote tolerance. By testing various methods, including enhanced costimulation blockade and the inhibition of certain immune cells, the research aims to create a more effective and safer protocol for heart transplant recipients. Patients may benefit from reduced risk of rejection and fewer side effects from medications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing or are candidates for heart transplantation.
Not a fit: Patients who have already received a heart transplant and are stable on immunosuppressive therapy may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer heart transplants with fewer complications and a better quality of life for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results in achieving heart allograft tolerance using similar immunological approaches, indicating potential for success in this research.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pierson, Richard N — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Pierson, Richard N
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.