Understanding Kidney Transplant Outcomes for People of African Ancestry

4/14 APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11137754

This project aims to understand why kidneys from African American donors sometimes don't last as long after transplant, especially when a specific gene is involved.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11137754 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Kidneys from African American donors, particularly those with certain genetic variations (APOL1 high-risk genotypes), sometimes have a shorter lifespan after transplant. However, many of these kidneys do well, suggesting other factors are at play. This project seeks to discover what other environmental or inherited factors interact with the APOL1 gene to affect how long transplanted kidneys last. The goal is to improve kidney transplant outcomes and address health disparities for individuals of African ancestry.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is relevant to kidney transplant recipients and donors, especially those of African American or African ancestry.

Not a fit: Patients without kidney disease or those not involved in kidney transplantation may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to evaluate kidney donors and recipients, improving the long-term success of kidney transplants for people of African ancestry.

How similar studies have performed: This consortium was established to prospectively address critical questions regarding APOL1 genotyping in kidney transplantation, indicating a novel and comprehensive approach to an ongoing challenge.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.