Proteomic blood test to track transplanted liver cells
Official title: Development of a proteomic assay for monitoring transplanted cells and tissues
Funded at Hepatx Corporation · NIH-11330247 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A blood test using mass spectrometry will help doctors see if transplanted liver cells are working inside patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hepatx Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $149,068 |
| NIH project number | 5R43DK139879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330247 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients eligible for hepatocyte transplantation or related cell-based liver therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing hepatocyte transplantation or not participating in a related cell-based therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a simple blood-based test that signals whether transplanted hepatocytes are functioning in people, using differences in donor and patient protein sequences detected in plasma. The test would be developed for humans and could speed up clinical development of hepatocyte transplantation as an alternative to whole-organ liver transplants. Researchers will use mass spectrometry to identify donor-derived proteins in blood and track changes over time in treated patients. If successful, the test could become a routine tool to monitor and optimize cell-based liver therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive safer, more accessible cell-based liver treatments with real-time monitoring of transplant success.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies suggest the concept can distinguish donor from patient proteins; human validation is the next step and remains exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Hepatx Corporation
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schuur, Eric R — Hepatx Corporation
- Study coordinator: Schuur, Eric R
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.