Sending anti-rejection medicine directly to blood vessels in transplanted lungs
Targeted delivery of immunosuppressive agents to the graft endothelium forthe prevention of rejection in lung transplantation
This project tests tiny drug carriers that deliver anti-rejection medicine straight to the blood vessels of transplanted lungs to help people who receive lung transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136558 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating nanoparticle agents that bind adhesion molecules on the blood vessels of a lung graft and release immunosuppressive drugs right at the transplant site. They will study how donor brain death and the transplant process raise these adhesion molecules and drive inflammation, using lab assays, donor lung tissue, and preclinical models to measure effects. The team will track drug delivery, bioavailability, binding to VCAM-1/ICAM-1, and whether this reduces immune activation in the graft. The goal is to develop a targeted approach that could move toward testing in people who receive lung transplants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People receiving a lung transplant—especially those getting lungs from brain-dead donors or judged to be at higher risk for rejection—would be the primary candidates for this approach.
Not a fit: Patients not undergoing lung transplantation or whose rejection is driven by mechanisms unrelated to graft endothelial adhesion molecules are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could better protect transplanted lungs from rejection while lowering the need for high-dose systemic immunosuppression and its side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Related targeted-delivery strategies have shown promise in laboratory and animal work, but applying them specifically to lung graft endothelium is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Atkinson, Carl — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Atkinson, Carl
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.