Understanding how kidney transplant patients respond to COVID vaccines
Official title: Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of Response to COVID Vaccine in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Funded at Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research · NIH-10911040 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kidney transplant patients respond to COVID-19 vaccines compared to other transplant patients, to help understand why they might not respond as well and find better ways to protect them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $197,333 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI171923-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911040 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have received a kidney transplant and are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone kidney transplantation or those who are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccination may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune responses of kidney transplant recipients to COVID-19 vaccines, focusing on how their unique immune systems react compared to other transplant groups, like liver recipients. By analyzing blood samples from these patients, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that influence vaccine effectiveness. The researchers will explore both cellular and antibody responses to better understand why kidney transplant patients may have a weaker response to vaccination. This knowledge could lead to improved vaccination strategies for this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance vaccine effectiveness and safety for kidney transplant recipients, ultimately improving their health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown varying immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines in transplant populations, indicating that this area of study is both relevant and necessary for improving patient care.
Where this research is happening
-
Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maltzman, Jonathan S — Palo Alto Veterans Instit for Research
- Study coordinator: Maltzman, Jonathan S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
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.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
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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.
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Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
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Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
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.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
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.