Optimizing Donor Management in Lung Transplantation for Better Graft Outcomes
Official title: Optimizing Donor Management in Lung Transplantation
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11353994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at improving how brain-dead donor lungs are assessed and managed to increase usable organs for transplantation and improve long-term outcomes for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $547,790 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL146856-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353994 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Heart-lung or lung transplant candidates and recipients, and transplant programs evaluating donor lungs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in the donor organ evaluation process or not awaiting transplantation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds a standardized donor management approach using the LUNDON score, a nine-variable tool that helps predict which donor lungs are most likely to be suitable and to result in better survival after transplant. Researchers will work with transplant programs and the OPTN to implement scoring in real-world settings and identify barriers to adoption. The study emphasizes practical changes to how donor lungs are evaluated, including modifiable factors like oxygen levels, chest imaging, kidney function, and infection status. By reducing unnecessary refusals and guiding management, the work aims to expand access to life-saving lung transplants for patients with end-stage lung disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have access to more donor lungs and better long-term transplant outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data show that standardized donor assessment can influence acceptance decisions and outcomes, but wide practice variation remains; this study seeks to operationalize that standardization.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Puri, Varun — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Puri, Varun
Related research
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-
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-
Targeted delivery of immune-suppressing agents to the lung graft to prevent rejection
A study at Northwestern University will test a new, targeted approach to prevent lung transplant rejection by delivering immune-suppressing drugs directly to the graft while blocking early signals that trigger rejection.
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.