Promoting Kidney Transplant Acceptance with New Immune Therapies
Official title: Promoting Kidney Transplantation Tolerance Through Novel Immunomodulation and Cellular Therapy
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11311946 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH-supported effort at the University of Minnesota is testing new immune-based therapies to help kidney transplant patients avoid lifelong strong immunosuppression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 20, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $937,017 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI174966-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311946 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with end-stage kidney disease who are candidates for kidney transplantation and eligible for participation in tolerance-inducing protocols.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for transplant or unable to participate in tolerance-inducing regimens may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how to teach the immune system to accept a transplanted kidney while preserving the body's ability to fight infections. Researchers are testing two promising agents, dazodalibep and a high-affinity anti-human OX40L antibody, to promote donor-specific tolerance. They will also study the VISTA pathway using an anti-human VISTA antibody to see if it can further support tolerant transplantation. The work combines targeted immunosuppressive strategies with cellular therapy approaches to reduce long-term complications seen after transplantation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to fewer side effects from immunosuppression and better long-term outcomes for kidney transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has shown promise for tolerance-based approaches, but this program explores novel combinations and human-targeted agents, representing a step forward in translational tolerance research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Andrew B — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Adams, Andrew B
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Strategies for HIV-to-HIV kidney transplants to increase organ donations
This project looks at making HIV-to-HIV kidney transplantation more common to help people with HIV get transplants faster by boosting organ donation and changing practice.
-
Biomarker-guided Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Patients
A multicenter study in kidney transplant recipients is testing whether a biomarker score from HLA-DR/DQ can guide changes in immunosuppression to reduce rejection risk and drug toxicity.
-
Helping the immune system accept a donated kidney in patients without prior sensitization
This project will try giving specially treated donor B cells alongside immune-sparing medicines to teach the immune systems of kidney transplant patients without prior antibodies to accept the new kidney.
-
Lowering donor-specific antibodies in sensitized kidney transplant patients
This project works to reduce harmful donor-specific antibodies in people who are sensitized and need a kidney transplant so their new organ lasts longer.
-
Reducing geographic disparities in kidney transplant access with AI and operations research
Aiming to use AI and operations research to make kidney transplant access more fair across different regions in the U.S.
-
Centralized patient coaching to boost live donor kidney transplantation
A US-wide program trains patients, caregivers, and their networks with coaching to help them pursue living donor kidney transplantation.
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.