# APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2022 · $306,450

## Abstract

Shorter allograft survival is observed for kidneys transplanted from deceased African American donors relative
to those from deceased European American donors. Recent retrospective reports have indicated that the
presence of two apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) renal-risk variants in the kidney donors significantly
contributes to this disparity. APOL1 renal-risk variants are common in U.S. populations with African ancestry
(primarily African Americans) and are strongly associated with end-stage renal disease for patients with non-
diabetic kidney disease, yet these risk variants are rare in other ethnic groups. Before APOL1 genotypic data
can be widely applied in the transplant community, however, a prospective multi-center study must be
performed to evaluate outcomes of kidneys from donors with African ancestry. Critical clinical post-transplant
information that was lacking in the prior retrospective studies needs to be collected, particularly kidney-biopsy
data and key potential modifiers such as development of viral infections, donor-specific antibodies, and
episodes of acute rejection. The NIH will fund a nationwide prospective study to assess the impact of APOL1
renal-risk variants on the outcomes of recipients of a kidney from a deceased or living donor with African
ancestry and on the kidney health of living donors with African ancestry after nephrectomy. The study will
consist of as many as 15 Clinical Centers and a central Scientific Data Research Center (SDRC). The Clinical
Centers will collect one-time blood samples from each participant for APOL1 genotyping at the SDRC and will
submit longitudinal clinical data for the recipients and living donors to the SDRC to assess the impact of
APOL1 genotype on development of chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease. The results from this
national study have the potential to transform organ allocation and informed consent processes in the
transplantation of kidneys from donors with African ancestry, improve renal allograft survival, and provide a
better understanding of the mechanisms whereby APOL1 renal-risk variants produce kidney disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10215274
- **Project number:** 5U01DK115997-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Gaurav Agarwal
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $306,450
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10215274

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10215274, APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Clinical Center (5U01DK115997-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10215274. Licensed CC0.

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