Optimal donor choices for stem cell transplants using Bayesian learning in the cyclophosphamide era
Official title: Optimal donor selection for hematopoietic cell transplant in the cyclophosphamide prophylaxis era by Bayesian machine learning with progressive illness-death data
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11445103 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will use patient data to help doctors pick the best donor for stem cell transplants in the era of cyclophosphamide-based GVHD prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $238,710 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HL189374-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445103 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with hematologic diseases needing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, where a donor is being sought and PTCy is used for GVHD prophylaxis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to allogeneic transplantation or without donor options may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at past transplant data to understand how donor characteristics affect outcomes when post-transplant cyclophosphamide is used. It uses Bayesian machine learning to model progressive illness–death scenarios and guide donor selection. The goal is to provide clearer guidance for choosing related or unrelated donors to maximize survival and minimize relapse and complications. The study analyzes large transplant databases to identify patterns that could inform future donor matching.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help clinicians choose safer, more effective donors for patients undergoing stem cell transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have explored donor factors, but this work focuses on the PTCy era with advanced Bayesian methods, representing a novel approach with potential for new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sparapani, Rodney Allen — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Sparapani, Rodney Allen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
-
Innate and Adaptive Immunoregulation in Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
A liver transplant-focused project investigates how the body’s early and later immune responses affect transplant failure or success after reperfusion.
-
Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.
-
Diabetes and Donor Tissue in Corneal Transplants
This grant studies whether corneas from donors with diabetes affect the success of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and what factors predict better or worse outcomes.
-
Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
-
Medicare Advantage and Transplant Access for Rural and Vulnerable Communities
Aimed at understanding how Medicare Advantage affects early steps to kidney transplant for adults in rural or socioeconomically challenged groups.
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.