Understanding skin cancer risks in organ transplant recipients
Official title: Identifying clinical and genetic factors for risk of multiple skin cancers in organ transplant recipients
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-10811623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why people who have had organ transplants are more likely to get skin cancer, focusing on how the medications they take to prevent their bodies from rejecting the transplant might affect their skin, with the goal of finding better ways to keep them healthy and prevent skin cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002452-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10811623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are organ transplant recipients who are at a higher risk of developing skin cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone organ transplantation or those without a history of skin cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the clinical and genetic factors that contribute to the increased risk of developing multiple skin cancers in organ transplant recipients. It focuses on understanding how immunosuppressive medications, which are necessary for transplant success, may affect DNA repair mechanisms and influence skin cancer development. By studying a population with a high incidence of skin cancers, the research aims to identify specific risk factors and mechanisms that lead to multiple skin cancers, ultimately improving patient care and prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better screening and prevention strategies for skin cancer in organ transplant recipients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that studying high-risk populations can yield valuable insights into cancer mechanisms, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wheless, Lee E — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Wheless, Lee E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
-
Innate and Adaptive Immunoregulation in Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
A liver transplant-focused project investigates how the body’s early and later immune responses affect transplant failure or success after reperfusion.
-
Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.
-
Diabetes and Donor Tissue in Corneal Transplants
This grant studies whether corneas from donors with diabetes affect the success of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) and what factors predict better or worse outcomes.
-
Microbial clues to diagnose and predict infections in kidney transplant patients
A patient-focused project will look for microbial biomarkers in stool, blood, and urine to help doctors predict and diagnose infections in people who have had a kidney transplant.
-
Medicare Advantage and Transplant Access for Rural and Vulnerable Communities
Aimed at understanding how Medicare Advantage affects early steps to kidney transplant for adults in rural or socioeconomically challenged groups.
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.