Understanding how pregnancy affects immune responses in organ transplantation
Official title: Mechanistic studies on pregnancy-induced humoral sensitization in organ transplantation
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11101327 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how being pregnant might change the way a woman's immune system reacts to organ transplants, helping us understand how to make transplants work better for women who have been pregnant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $821,620 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI182097-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11101327 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women who have undergone pregnancy and are considering or have received organ transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have never been pregnant or those who are not candidates for organ transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how pregnancy can influence the immune system's response to organ transplants. It focuses on the dual role of pregnancy in promoting tolerance to certain tissues while also causing sensitization to fetal antigens, which can complicate transplant acceptance. Using mouse models, the study aims to uncover the cellular mechanisms involved in these processes, particularly how specific immune cells are affected during and after pregnancy. The findings could lead to improved strategies for managing organ transplants in women who have been pregnant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the success rates of organ transplants in women who have been pregnant by improving our understanding of immune tolerance.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding immune tolerance mechanisms, but this specific approach focusing on pregnancy-induced sensitization is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chong, Anita S — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Chong, Anita S
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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.