Using donor immune cells to improve kidney transplant acceptance
Official title: Apoptotic Donor Leukocytes to Promote Kidney Transplant Tolerance
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11063824 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help kidney transplants work better by using special donor cells and temporary medication to help the body accept the new kidney, which could lead to improved outcomes for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 20, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $943,403 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI174966-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063824 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are undergoing kidney transplantation and are matched with living donors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for kidney transplantation or those receiving organs from deceased donors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel approach to enhance kidney transplant success by using apoptotic donor leukocytes (ADLs) combined with transient immunosuppression. The study aims to understand how these treatments can promote long-term tolerance of kidney transplants in animal models, which could lead to better outcomes for human patients. By analyzing immune responses through advanced profiling techniques, the researchers hope to refine the treatment protocol for clinical application. The ultimate goal is to develop a safe and effective method to ensure that transplanted kidneys are accepted by the recipient's immune system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved kidney transplant outcomes and reduced reliance on lifelong immunosuppressive medications for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results using similar approaches in nonhuman primates, indicating potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hering, Bernhard Josef — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Hering, Bernhard Josef
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Immunological mechanisms behind treatment-resistant kidney transplant rejection
This grant explores why certain kidney transplant rejections don’t respond to standard treatments and what immune cells in the graft are driving that resistance.
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Complement-Bound Exosomes and Kidney Transplant Immunity
This project studies how kidney transplant injury and rejection happen after surgery and whether blocking certain immune pathways during organ preservation could improve transplant outcomes.
-
Blood vessel signals predicting heart problems after kidney transplant
This project studies blood markers and tissue patterns after kidney transplants to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiovascular problems.
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Understanding how BK virus links infection to kidney transplant rejection
This project looks at how BK polyomavirus reactivation affects kidney transplant patients and aims to use pre-transplant T cell information to tailor immunosuppression and monitoring.
-
Characterization of a LILRB3 SNP cluster and its link to kidney transplant outcomes
A study in kidney transplant recipients looks at genetic factors that may be tied to higher risk of graft failure.
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.