Super-resolution ultrasound to image tiny blood vessels in kidney transplants
Official title: Characterization of microvasculature in kidney transplant by super-resolution ultrasound imaging
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11321170 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new ultrasound method will be used to see and measure tiny blood vessels in transplanted kidneys to help people with kidney transplants monitor graft health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | May 9, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $568,357 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK138998-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321170 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have received a kidney transplant and are willing to undergo ultrasound imaging and routine clinical follow-up at the study site.
✕Less likely to help
People without kidney transplants, those who cannot undergo ultrasound imaging, or those unwilling/unable to travel to the study center are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
This project is developing a stronger ultrasound method called super-resolution ultrasound imaging (SRUI) to visualize and measure the tiny blood vessels inside transplanted kidneys. The team will improve signal processing and localization methods and then use SRUI in patients with kidney transplants to collect images and compare them with clinical pathology. A pilot patient study already showed SRUI measurements match closely with tissue pathology, and researchers will refine the technique for real-world clinical settings. The goal is to create a noninvasive tool for more frequent and accurate monitoring of allograft injury without relying solely on biopsies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow earlier, noninvasive detection and monitoring of transplant injury to guide treatment and improve long-term graft survival.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot data show strong correlation with pathology (r ≥ 0.9), indicating promise, but the technique is still novel and being optimized for clinical use.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Chengwu — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Huang, Chengwu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving kidney transplant monitoring with advanced ultrasound imaging
This study is testing a new ultrasound technology that helps doctors take a closer look at the tiny blood vessels in kidney transplants, making it easier to spot any problems early on and improve the health and survival of transplanted kidneys for patients.
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Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
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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.
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Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
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Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
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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.