Preventing CMV after a bone marrow transplant
Defining Protective CMV Immunity after Transplantation
This project tests ways to strengthen antibody and T-cell defenses to stop cytomegalovirus (CMV) from coming back in people after allogeneic bone marrow or stem cell transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262837 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team uses new mouse models that mimic CMV returning after a transplant to learn how antibodies and T cells stop the virus. They have shown that giving immune T cells or antibody-rich serum can prevent CMV reactivation, and they will map when and where the virus reappears in the body. The researchers will study how antibodies and T cells work together to keep CMV under control long term. Finally, they aim to design clinically practical ways to boost CMV immunity while avoiding graft-versus-host disease, including strategies that target IL-6 driven inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have undergone or will undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplantation and are at risk for CMV reactivation, especially those with graft-versus-host disease or significant immune suppression.
Not a fit: Patients without CMV exposure or risk (for example many autologous transplant recipients or people not immunosuppressed) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies or prevention strategies that reduce CMV reactivation, organ disease, and complications after allogeneic transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Related clinical approaches, like adoptive T-cell therapy and passive antibody therapies, have shown promise against CMV, but this work uses new preclinical models to clarify timing, location, and combination strategies and is partly novel.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hill, Geoffrey Roger — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Hill, Geoffrey Roger
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.