Role of autoreactivity in chronic graft-versus-host disease
Official title: Role of autoreactivity in pathogenesis of chronic graft versus host disease
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11293459 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the body’s immune cells contribute to chronic GVHD after donor stem cell transplant, with the goal of preventing or treating this serious complication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $861,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL170099-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11293459 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and are at risk for or affected by chronic GVHD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without GVHD or those not receiving Allo-HCT-related care are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
After a stem cell transplant, some patients develop chronic GVHD, a condition where the immune system attacks the body. The project studies how tissue-resident T cells and B cells interact in affected tissues like liver, lung, and skin. It plans to use mouse models and human samples to uncover mechanisms and hopes to test targeted ways to block harmful cell interactions. A key aim is to create novel tools to modify donor T cells so they don’t drive cGVHD, potentially improving long-term outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapies that prevent or lessen chronic GVHD and improve survival and quality of life after transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models and patient samples have shown that T and B cell interactions contribute to GVHD, making this a plausible next step.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jenq, Robert — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Jenq, Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
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Microbiome-based therapy for treatment-refractory GVHD after stem cell transplant
A microbiome-based therapy is being developed to help people who have graft-versus-host disease that doesn’t respond to standard treatments after a stem cell transplant.
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Role of altered mitochondria in preventing GVHD after stem cell transplant
This NIH grant explores how damaged mitochondria released during pre-transplant conditioning may trigger graft-versus-host disease and tests ways to fix mitochondrial dynamics to prevent GVHD.
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Fecal transplant plus fiber to treat graft-versus-host disease after blood stem cell transplant
A study to see if giving fecal transplant along with dietary fiber helps gut health and reduces complications in patients who have received a stem cell transplant and developed graft-versus-host disease.
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Using medium-chain fatty acids and a fat-sensing receptor to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease
This project looks at whether changing medium‑chain fatty acids or blocking a fat sensor called GPR84 can help people with chronic graft‑versus‑host disease after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.
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Microbiome-based oral therapy for gut GVHD after stem cell transplant
Researchers are testing an oral live Biotherapeutic Product to help the gut microbiome improve graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant patients.
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.