Understanding how immune cells affect kidney transplant success
Official title: Monocyte and Macrophage Functional Evolution in Kidney Transplantation
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10994275 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells in your body, called monocytes and macrophages, behave after a kidney transplant to help us understand why some transplants succeed while others fail, with the hope of finding better ways to improve transplant success and reduce the chances of needing another transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $545,999 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK141374-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10994275 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals undergoing kidney transplantation or those with end-stage kidney disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for kidney transplantation or those with other unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of monocytes and macrophages in kidney transplantation, focusing on how these immune cells evolve and respond after a transplant. By studying the infiltration of monocytes and their transformation into macrophages, the research aims to identify factors that contribute to both early and late graft failures. The approach includes examining specific proteins that influence immune responses and fibrosis in the kidney, with the goal of finding ways to improve transplant outcomes and reduce the need for re-transplantation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing kidney transplant rejection and enhancing long-term graft survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding immune responses in kidney transplants, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luo, Xunrong — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Luo, Xunrong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Strategies for HIV-to-HIV kidney transplants to increase organ donations
This project looks at making HIV-to-HIV kidney transplantation more common to help people with HIV get transplants faster by boosting organ donation and changing practice.
-
Biomarker-guided Immunosuppression in Kidney Transplant Patients
A multicenter study in kidney transplant recipients is testing whether a biomarker score from HLA-DR/DQ can guide changes in immunosuppression to reduce rejection risk and drug toxicity.
-
Helping the immune system accept a donated kidney in patients without prior sensitization
This project will try giving specially treated donor B cells alongside immune-sparing medicines to teach the immune systems of kidney transplant patients without prior antibodies to accept the new kidney.
-
Lowering donor-specific antibodies in sensitized kidney transplant patients
This project works to reduce harmful donor-specific antibodies in people who are sensitized and need a kidney transplant so their new organ lasts longer.
-
Reducing geographic disparities in kidney transplant access with AI and operations research
Aiming to use AI and operations research to make kidney transplant access more fair across different regions in the U.S.
-
Centralized patient coaching to boost live donor kidney transplantation
A US-wide program trains patients, caregivers, and their networks with coaching to help them pursue living donor kidney 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.