Optimizing a prehabilitation program for kidney transplant candidates on dialysis
Official title: Developing the Optimal Prehabilitation Program for Kidney Transplant Candidates on Hemodialysis - Resubmission - 1
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11421433 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program to improve physical function and readiness for kidney transplant in people on dialysis is being developed and tested to help candidates stay healthier while they wait.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $831,828 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140266-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421433 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults on dialysis who are actively awaiting kidney transplantation and are eligible for a structured prehabilitation program.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on the transplant waitlist or who cannot participate in exercise-based interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a standardized prehabilitation plan to boost patients' physical capacity before kidney transplantation. It builds on a small prior study and uses stakeholder input to define the most helpful components. The team will test a consistent approach to improve activity, reduce complications, and support recovery after transplant when patients are on dialysis. If successful, the program could become a routine part of wait-list care for kidney transplant candidates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience faster recovery, fewer complications, and better overall function while awaiting and after kidney transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small studies showed increased activity but also highlighted limitations like heterogeneity and adherence; this project seeks to create a standardized, stakeholder-informed program.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Orandi, Babak John — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Orandi, Babak John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
-
Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
-
Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
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.