Understanding donor lung injury after lung transplant

Immunogenomic analysis of donor lung injury and its impact on clinical outcomes after lung transplantation

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11139492

This research looks for hidden signs of injury in donor lungs to help more lung transplant patients have better outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11139492 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

After a lung transplant, some donor lungs develop severe injury, which can lead to serious problems or even death for the patient. We believe there might be subtle, hidden injuries in donor lungs that make them more susceptible to damage once transplanted. This project aims to discover these early signs of injury by studying specific biological markers, such as cell-free DNA, and how they contribute to inflammation. Our goal is to better understand these processes so we can identify at-risk lungs and improve long-term success for transplant recipients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is most relevant to individuals who are awaiting or have recently received a lung transplant.

Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for lung transplantation would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify donor lungs at risk and improve the health and survival of lung transplant patients.

How similar studies have performed: While cell-free DNA has been identified as a biomarker for lung injury, this specific approach to understanding its role in subclinical donor lung injury and inflammation pathways is a new area of investigation.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromeAdult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.