Targeting graft T cells to reduce transplant rejection
Official title: Targeting intragraft alloreactive T cells to control rejection after human solid organ transplantation
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11449411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $822,280 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI185769-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals undergoing solid organ transplantation, particularly intestinal transplantation, and who are willing to provide tissue and blood samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not undergo transplantation or who decline participation would not benefit.
What this research studies
In people receiving solid organ transplants, this project looks at the T cells inside the transplanted organ to understand why rejection happens and how to keep the organ thriving. The researchers will analyze tissue samples and blood to map T cell behavior before and after transplant, with a focus on improving long-term graft acceptance. The goal is to translate these immune insights into strategies that could lower rejection rates and improve survival after transplantation. This work could eventually lead to new monitoring or treatments that help patients maintain healthy graft function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better graft survival and fewer rejection episodes for transplant patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that analyzing donor- and recipient-derived T cells can reveal patterns linked to rejection and tolerance, guiding future therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Jianing — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Fu, Jianing
Related research
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-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
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Engineered kidney 'chip' to study antibody-driven rejection and how the body adapts
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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.
-
Phase 1 trial of siltuximab for antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplant
A early-stage study tests whether siltuximab can help people who have antibody-mediated rejection after lung transplantation.
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.