Regulatory dendritic cell therapy to reduce immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplant
Official title: Regulatory dendritic cell therapy and immunosuppressive drug withdrawal in live donor liver transplantation
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11448171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach using donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells is being tested to help adults who receive a liver transplant live without relying on traditional immunosuppressive drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,867,549 |
| NIH project number | 1U01AI192219-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448171 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are candidates for live donor liver transplantation and meet the study’s inclusion criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not eligible for the dendritic cell intervention or those who do not tolerate the therapy could see no benefit.
What this research studies
This program tests donor-derived regulatory dendritic cell infusions given before and after liver transplant, along with a staged plan to withdraw immunosuppressive drugs. The goal is to increase the number of patients who can achieve drug-free operational tolerance within the first years after transplant. The study uses a randomized, two-arm phase IIa design comparing the interventional group to historical controls while monitoring safety and potential benefits. If successful, this approach could reduce drug-related side effects and long-term health costs for transplant patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may achieve lasting graft tolerance with less or no dependence on conventional immunosuppressive drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous early results suggested about 32% graft tolerance with donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells and drug withdrawal, guiding this randomized trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomson, Angus W — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Thomson, Angus W
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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.