Synthetic heparin (dekaparin) to protect donated livers during transplant
Development of synthetic heparin to protect liver graft from ischemia reperfusion injury during transplantation
This project adds a lab-made heparin called dekaparin to liver preservation fluid to help protect donated livers from damage during transplant surgery for people needing a liver transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Glyco Discoveries, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11313662 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you need a liver transplant, researchers are developing dekaparin, a carbohydrate-based synthetic heparin, to put into the fluid used to recover and store donated livers. The idea is that adding dekaparin during organ recovery and cold preservation can reduce ischemia–reperfusion injury that happens when a liver's blood supply is stopped and restarted. That damage can cause early graft dysfunction, bile duct problems, rejection, and higher chances of tumor recurrence in some patients, so reducing it could improve outcomes. The company is advancing dekaparin through late-stage development with the goal of testing it in settings that mimic real transplant conditions and eventual clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people listed for liver transplantation, especially those slated to receive higher-risk donated livers (extended-criteria donors) such as patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or end-stage liver disease.
Not a fit: People who are not undergoing liver transplantation or recipients of low-risk/ideal donor livers with very short preservation times are unlikely to benefit from this preservation treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, dekaparin could lower early graft failure, reduce biliary complications and tumor recurrence, and improve overall graft survival after liver transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Related strategies using anticoagulants and protective additives in preservation solutions have shown promise in preclinical work and some clinical contexts, but using this specific synthetic heparin, dekaparin, in preservation is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- Glyco Discoveries, INC — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arnold, Katelyn — Glyco Discoveries, INC
- Study coordinator: Arnold, Katelyn
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.