Virus-based treatment to stop repeated urinary infections after a kidney transplant
Phage Therapy for Recurrent UTIs in Kidney Transplant Recipients
This trial gives phage medicines to women with kidney transplants who keep getting urinary tract infections to try to lower future infections by targeting the bacteria in the gut and bladder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to receive a targeted bacteriophage treatment or a placebo and followed for safety, tolerability, and whether infections come back less often. The phages are viruses that specifically kill E. coli and Klebsiella, common causes of UTIs in transplant patients. Doctors will collect urine and stool samples to see how the phage changes the bacteria living in your gut and urinary tract and will track any urinary infections, kidney function, and side effects. This is a phase I/II pilot at UC San Diego focused on female kidney transplant recipients with recurrent UTIs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who have had a kidney transplant and suffer repeated urinary tract infections, especially when cultures show E. coli or Klebsiella, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a kidney transplant, men, those whose UTIs are caused by different bacteria, or those with ongoing severe infections may not be helped by this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower repeat UTIs, reduce antibiotic use, and help protect transplant kidney health.
How similar studies have performed: Early clinical uses of phage therapy for some bacterial infections have shown promise, but randomized trials to prevent recurrent UTIs in transplant patients are limited and this application is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Aslam, Saima — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Aslam, Saima
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.