Understanding how to achieve tolerance in heart transplants using mixed chimerism
Core A: Elucidating the Mechanisms Underlying Mixed-Chimerism Based Tolerance
This study is looking at a new way to help people who receive heart transplants accept their new hearts better, so they might need fewer medications to prevent rejection and have better overall outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10889214 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how to enhance tolerance for heart transplants through a method called mixed hematopoietic chimerism. By studying the immune response and mechanisms involved in tolerance, the researchers aim to develop protocols that can be safely applied to human heart transplant recipients. The approach includes testing various strategies to achieve a stable level of donor chimerism, which may help the body accept the transplanted heart without rejection. Patients may benefit from improved transplant outcomes and reduced need for immunosuppressive medications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing or are candidates for heart transplantation.
Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation or those with conditions that preclude the use of mixed chimerism techniques may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better acceptance of heart transplants, reducing the risk of rejection and the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in achieving tolerance for kidney transplants using similar mixed chimerism approaches, but this application to heart transplants is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Benichou, Gilles a — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Benichou, Gilles a
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 below.