The Post-Lung Transplant Aging in Immune Cells in Donor Lungs
Official title: The Post-Lung Transplant Impact of Alveolar Macrophage Senescence in Aged Donor Lungs
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11403947 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how aging donor lungs affect lung transplant outcomes by studying immune cells called alveolar macrophages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $154,440 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL181178-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403947 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults awaiting or having undergone lung transplantation, especially those receiving lungs from older donors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in lung transplant, or those not receiving aged-donor lungs, may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
After a lung transplant, older donor lungs may lead to more complications. This project looks at how aging changes immune cells in the lung environment and how that affects rejection and long-term success. Researchers will study samples from donor lungs and use patient data to understand the links between age, immune aging, and transplant outcomes. The aim is to identify markers and mechanisms that could improve screening and post-transplant care for older donors. The work is designed to inform strategies that could make aged donor lungs safer and more durable for recipients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could improve survival and quality of life for people receiving lungs from older donors.
How similar studies have gone: Similar work in aging and transplant immunology has shown age-related immune changes can influence outcomes, with ongoing progress in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Kunal Jatinkumar — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Patel, Kunal Jatinkumar
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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.