Understanding Kidney Transplant Outcomes in African Americans
U Maryland Mid-Atlantic APOLLO Research Network Omic and Clinical Center
This project looks into why some transplanted kidneys, especially from African American donors, may not last as long, focusing on a gene called APOL1.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127684 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that kidneys transplanted from African American deceased donors sometimes have a shorter lifespan compared to those from European American donors. Previous findings suggest that a specific gene, APOL1, with certain risk variants, plays a role in these outcomes. However, not all kidneys with these APOL1 variants fail quickly, so we believe other factors like environment and genetics also contribute. This effort aims to answer important questions about APOL1's impact on kidney transplant success and the safety of living kidney donation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for African American individuals who are kidney transplant recipients, those awaiting a kidney transplant, or those considering becoming a living kidney donor.
Not a fit: Patients whose kidney disease or transplant outcomes are not related to the APOL1 gene or African American ancestry may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better matching of donor kidneys, improved transplant survival rates, more available kidneys for transplant, and increased safety for living African American donors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous landmark studies have identified the APOL1 gene's connection to shorter kidney graft survival, and this consortium builds upon those findings to address remaining critical questions.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bromberg, Jonathan S — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Bromberg, Jonathan S
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.