# Developing novel biomarkers of renal transplant rejection

> **NIH NIH K24** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $152,226

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Renal transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage renal
disease. However, acute renal allograft rejection (ARAR) remains a major complication after
kidney transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Importantly,
ARAR remains the strongest predictor of long-term renal allograft injury and survival. Currently
known risk factors do not allow for the accurate assessment of ARAR risk. In addition, we
currently lack a non-invasive, cost-effective clinical test to diagnose ARAR. The development of
novel urinary exosomes represents promising prognostic tools for ARAR risk assessment. The
goals of this Mid-Career Investigator Award are to expand Dr. Reza Abdi’s patient-oriented
research program towards the development of better diagnostic and prognostic strategies for
ARAR in renal transplant patients, further enhance Dr. Abdi’s mentoring skills, and provide him
with the resources and support to foster the development of trainees interested in patient-
oriented research in transplantation. This research proposal is built upon the candidate’s prior
research identifying ARAR biomarkers in transplantation and is strengthened by his
multidisciplinary collaborations. These projects offer a unique opportunity for mentees to train in
patient-oriented clinical and translational transplantation research that is at the intersection of
immunology, biomarker research and transplantation. From this training vehicle, mentees will
gain skills to carry out patient-oriented research in transplantation, learn to apply cutting-edge
exosome and mRNA profiling and analysis and gain hands-on experience in translational
research in ARAR. The rich resources and infrastructure at Harvard Medical School and the
Brigham and Women’s Hospital Renal Division/Transplantation Research Center provide an
outstanding scientific research environment to train the next generation of researchers in
transplantation. These studies will not only help identify novel immunogenetic biomarkers for
predicting ARAR and help in the creation of a clinical tool for diagnosing ARAR, but will also
advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of ARAR and greatly assist in the development
of innovative therapies in renal transplantation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10127256
- **Project number:** 2K24AI116925-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Reza Abdi
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $152,226
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-01-06 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10127256

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10127256, Developing novel biomarkers of renal transplant rejection (2K24AI116925-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10127256. Licensed CC0.

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