Using blood biomarkers to guide immunosuppression after liver transplant
Utility of Biomarkers of Rejection and Kidney Injury in Tailoring Liver Transplant Immunosuppression
This project uses regular blood biomarker checks to help doctors personalize immunosuppression for people who have had a liver transplant to reduce rejection and protect the kidneys.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11392822 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll have regular blood tests after your liver transplant to measure molecular markers linked to rejection and kidney injury. The trial compares biomarker-guided medication changes to standard care across several transplant centers. Doctors may adjust doses of common drugs like calcineurin inhibitors based on your biomarker results, and researchers will also study immune and kidney-injury pathways to identify new treatment targets. The goal is to see whether this personalized approach leads to fewer rejections and less chronic kidney disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have received a liver transplant and are taking standard immunosuppressants (especially calcineurin inhibitors) and can attend regular follow-up blood draws at a participating center.
Not a fit: People without a liver transplant, patients not on calcineurin-inhibitor regimens, or those unable to attend regular clinic visits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let doctors tailor immunosuppressive drugs to reduce rejection episodes and lower the risk of chronic kidney damage.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work, including CTOT-14, identified promising biomarkers that flag early rejection or over-immunosuppression, but using those biomarkers to guide therapy in a prospective multicenter trial is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boike, Justin — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Boike, Justin
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.