Understanding Kidney Transplant Outcomes for People with APOL1 Gene Variations
Official title: 9/14 APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11143630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a specific gene, APOL1, affects the success of kidney transplants, particularly for African Americans, to help improve long-term outcomes for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $217,381 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK116102-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11143630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this type of research would be African American individuals who are either kidney transplant recipients or living kidney donors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have the APOL1 gene variations or are not involved in kidney transplantation may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Kidney transplants greatly improve the lives of people with chronic kidney disease, and this project aims to find ways to make transplanted kidneys last longer and work better. We are focusing on the APOL1 gene, which is more common in people of African ancestry and has been linked to kidney disease. By collecting long-term information from kidney transplant recipients and living donors, we want to understand how this gene influences transplant success, including kidney function, rejection, and the health of living donors. Our goal is to use this knowledge to help more people receive successful transplants and ensure that healthy kidneys are not unnecessarily discarded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better matching of kidneys for transplant, improved long-term health for recipients, and more successful transplants overall, especially for African Americans.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on a successful first phase where a significant number of participants were already recruited and data collected, suggesting a proven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosas, Sylvia E — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Rosas, Sylvia E
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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.