Understanding why some donated kidneys are not used for transplants
Official title: Identifying Behavioral Factors Contributing to High Discard Rate of Deceased Donor Kidneys
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11051798 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at why many healthy kidneys from deceased donors are not used for transplants, by exploring how doctors decide which kidneys to accept, with the hope of finding ways to get more kidneys to patients who really need them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tempe, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $374,401 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139337-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11051798 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with end-stage renal failure who are awaiting kidney transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in need of a kidney transplant or those who are not eligible for transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons behind the high discard rates of deceased donor kidneys, focusing on the decision-making processes of clinicians. By analyzing a unique dataset that links kidney offer information with records of doctors who evaluate these offers, the study aims to uncover variations in acceptance thresholds among individual doctors. This could help identify behavioral factors that influence whether a kidney is deemed suitable for transplantation. The ultimate goal is to improve the utilization of transplant-quality kidneys for patients with end-stage renal failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased availability of kidneys for transplantation, improving outcomes for patients with end-stage renal failure.
How similar studies have gone: Similar research has shown that understanding clinician decision-making can lead to improved organ utilization, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Tempe, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Green, Ellen P — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Green, Ellen P
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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.