Understanding how kidney immune cells talk to each other to prevent transplant rejection
Official title: Cellular communication in kidney microniches driving alloimmunity
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11460602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how certain immune cells in kidney transplants interact and how this affects rejection, with aims to find new ways to protect transplanted kidneys.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $910,287 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK149441-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11460602 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with kidney transplants or those who may need one, whose immune responses involve Tfh cells and alloantibody pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without kidney transplant-related immune issues are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
In people receiving kidney transplants, immune cells called Tfh cells and kidney lining cells may communicate in ways that drive rejection. The project uses special mouse models and human kidney tissue to map where these interactions happen and how they change over time. It will test how signals from kidney cells influence Tfh cell behavior and how Tfh cells, in turn, affect kidney cells during rejection. Findings could reveal new targets to prevent or lessen rejection and improve transplant outcomes. The work combines animal models with analyses of human biopsy data to validate key mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies to prevent kidney transplant rejection and improve graft longevity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that Tfh cells and kidney cells interact to influence rejection, with ongoing research suggesting this is a promising area yet not fully defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sage, Peter the — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sage, Peter the
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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.