Understanding why a lung transplant sometimes fails early and how to tailor treatment
Official title: Clinical-Molecular Endotypes of Primary Graft Dysfunction in Lung Transplant Patients
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11429612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study of people receiving lung transplants to find molecular differences that cause early graft failure and point to better, personalized therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,275,602 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL187520-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing lung transplantation and their perioperative clinical data and samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing lung transplantation or lacking the specific sample/data collection may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows patients receiving lung transplants and combines careful analysis of their medical records with new lab data from blood, lung fluid, and tissue. By linking clinical observations with laboratory models, researchers aim to identify distinct biological endotypes of graft dysfunction. They will test whether donor lung bacterial infection and recipient lung autoantibodies define subtypes that respond differently to therapies. The work will translate findings from mouse models to human patients to improve management of PGD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to targeted treatments for different PGD endotypes and improve survival after lung transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in animal models and human samples suggests endotypes exist; this study builds on those findings with integrated human data.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wunderink, Richard G — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wunderink, Richard G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Targeting inflammation and alloimmunity in lung transplant recipients with clazakizumab
A study to see if blocking IL-6 with clazakizumab can improve survival and reduce rejection in people who have received a lung transplant.
-
Vaccination responses in lung transplant patients
This grant studies how people who have received lung transplants respond to COVID-19 vaccines and why their antibody responses may be limited.
-
The Post-Lung Transplant Aging in Immune Cells in Donor Lungs
This grant explores how aging donor lungs affect lung transplant outcomes by studying immune cells called alveolar macrophages.
-
Predictors of Lung Transplant Success and Costs
This study looks at what pre-transplant patient factors and biology predict a smooth recovery and lower costs after lung transplant.
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Lung Transplant Network Data Center coordinating multicenter research
A national network is creating a shared data and biosample hub to support a large study of people who receive lung transplants.
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.