New ways to help the body accept a lung transplant
Novel Approaches to Inducing Lung Allograft Tolerance in NHPs
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · NIH-11285361
This project aims to develop treatments that let people with lung transplants live without lifelong immune-suppressing drugs.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11285361 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a procedure that combines donor bone marrow with gentler pre-transplant treatment to create mixed donor-and-recipient blood cells that teach the immune system to accept a lung without ongoing drugs. They have shown durable, drug-free lung survival using this approach in nonhuman primates but are now refining the protocol to lower serious side effects such as infections, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, and marrow suppression. The team will adjust conditioning and enhance regulatory immune mechanisms to make the method safer and effective across more donor–recipient mismatches. If these preclinical improvements succeed, the work could pave the way for human trials to reduce or stop chronic immunosuppression after lung transplant.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be people who have had or will receive a lung transplant and want alternatives to lifelong immunosuppression, especially those able to travel to a transplant center with compatible donor arrangements.
Not a fit: People who do not have a lung transplant, those with uncontrolled infections or active cancers, or those unable to receive donor bone marrow may not benefit from these approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow lung transplant recipients to avoid lifelong immunosuppressive therapy and reduce rejection, infections, and drug-related toxicity.
How similar studies have performed: Mixed-chimerism methods have induced kidney transplant tolerance in animals and some human settings, but applying them safely and durably to lung transplants is newer and more challenging.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MADSEN, JOREN C — MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- Study coordinator: MADSEN, JOREN C
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.
Conditions: Autoimmune Diseases