Using blood biomarkers to guide immunosuppression after liver transplant
Official title: Utility of Biomarkers of Rejection and Kidney Injury in Tailoring Liver Transplant Immunosuppression
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11392822 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 6, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $3,455,370 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI163081-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392822 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boike, Justin — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Boike, Justin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Biomarkers to tailor liver transplant immunosuppression
A multi-center study using blood biomarkers to guide how immunosuppressive drugs are given to liver transplant patients.
-
Using blood biomarkers to improve liver transplant immunosuppression
This study is looking at how certain blood tests can help doctors create personalized treatment plans for people who have received a liver transplant, making it easier to prevent rejection and protect kidney health.
-
Biomarker-guided reduction of immunosuppression after liver transplant
A multicenter trial tests whether using blood biomarkers to guide tapering of immunosuppression in adults with liver transplants can keep people healthy while lowering drug exposure.
-
Improving liver transplant success by targeting immune cells in donor livers
This study is looking at a new way to improve liver transplants by changing certain immune cells in the liver before it's transplanted, which could help prevent the body from rejecting the new liver, making it better for patients who need a transplant.
-
Using miRNA profiles to improve immunosuppression management in liver transplant patients
This study is looking at how certain tiny molecules in your blood can help doctors better manage the medications you take after a liver transplant, making sure your body doesn’t reject the new organ while reducing side effects.
-
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.
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.