Understanding kidney transplant allocation disparities
Official title: Diagnosing disparities in existing and proposed allocation systems for kidney transplantation
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10826835 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changes in kidney transplant rules impact young kids under six, aiming to see if these new rules help make sure everyone has a fair chance at getting a transplant, especially those who need it most.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 9, 2024 |
| Project end | July 8, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $92,756 |
| NIH project number | 1F32DK136310-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10826835 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children under six years old who are on the kidney transplant waiting list.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not on the kidney transplant waiting list or who are older than six years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how kidney transplant allocation policies affect access for patients, particularly focusing on children under six years old. It examines the recent changes in the allocation system, which prioritize candidates based on their distance from the donor hospital, and assesses whether these changes have improved equity in organ distribution. By analyzing patient characteristics and transplant rates, the study aims to identify and address disparities in access to kidney transplants for vulnerable populations. The research employs data analysis and computer simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of current and proposed allocation systems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more equitable kidney transplant allocation, improving access for children and other underserved groups.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that changes in organ allocation policies can have significant impacts on transplant rates, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liyanage, Luckmini — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Liyanage, Luckmini
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.