Stopping antibody rejection of pig kidney transplants for sensitized patients
Official title: Overcoming humoral rejection after xenotransplantation in sensitized nonhuman primate recipients
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11284100 · Data updated 2026-11-12
New approaches aim to stop antibody attacks on pig kidney transplants for patients who already have anti-donor antibodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | February 6, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $785,868 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175411-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11284100 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Best suited for patients who are highly allosensitized (have pre-existing anti-donor or anti-HLA antibodies) and need a kidney transplant but face low chances of receiving a human donor organ.
✕Less likely to help
May not benefit patients without sensitization, those needing organs other than kidneys, or those with medical conditions that prevent transplantation.
What this research studies
This project uses genetically engineered pig kidneys and nonhuman primate models to test ways to prevent antibody-mediated rejection in recipients who already have anti-donor antibodies. Researchers will try desensitization methods and different immunosuppression combinations to reduce harmful antibody responses after transplant. The work aims to identify treatments that keep pig kidneys working longer in sensitized recipients and to guide future clinical options for people who have difficulty getting human donor organs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could enable pig kidneys to survive longer in highly sensitized transplant candidates, offering a new option when human organs are unlikely.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pig-to-primate transplants using gene-edited pigs and immune-blocking drugs have extended graft survival, but preventing antibody-driven rejection in sensitized recipients remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwun, Jean — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Kwun, Jean
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Injecting immune-boosting medicine into melanoma tumors to help the immune system reject them
This gives an immune-boosting drug directly into melanoma tumors in pet dogs to help their T cells find and destroy the cancer.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
-
Targeting graft T cells to reduce transplant rejection
A patient-facing study exploring how immune cells within transplanted organs drive rejection and how we might reduce trouble for people who need organ transplants.
-
Engineered kidney 'chip' to study antibody-driven rejection and how the body adapts
A kidney-rejection research grant is developing a miniaturized, human cell–based chip to model how antibodies cause rejection and how kidneys may adapt.
-
Social media, mood, and teens: how the menstrual cycle affects rejection feelings and online experiences
Teenagers using social media may feel stronger negative reactions to online feedback, especially around certain times in their menstrual cycle, which could relate to mood and depression.
-
Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
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.