Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
Official title: Understanding the link between infection and rejection in kidney transplant recipients: Defining mechanisms of BK Polyomavirus reactivation and heterologous immunity
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11436797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $171,796 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AI202270-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11436797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Kidney transplant candidates and recipients at risk for BKPyV reactivation or allograft rejection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without BKPyV risk or without influencing immunosuppression decisions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Kidney transplant recipients can suffer allograft injury when BK polyomavirus reactivates. The study will examine the pre-transplant T cell repertoire to find clues that predict BKPyV reactivation and possible rejection after transplantation. Researchers will analyze phenotypic and transcriptional features of BKPyV-specific T cells and explore how memory against BKPyV might influence responses to the transplanted organ. By identifying immune signatures before transplant, the work aims to enable personalized immunosuppressive strategies and targeted monitoring, potentially reducing allograft loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive more precise immunosuppression plans to lower BKPyV-related rejection and improve graft survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that immune profiling can predict viral reactivation; this study builds on that approach in the transplant setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crane, Clarkson — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Crane, Clarkson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
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-
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This study is exploring a new type of immune cell that could help prevent kidney transplant rejection by stopping harmful antibodies, and it's designed for people who have received a kidney transplant and want to improve their chances of success.
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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.
-
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.
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.