# The Landscape of Serious Infections following Kidney Transplantation in People Living with HIV

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $184,515

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Kidney transplantation (KT) is a lifesaving intervention for the 10,000 people living with HIV (PLWH) and end-
stage renal disease in the United States. Confirmed as safe and effective in the early 2000s, this practice has
rapidly expanded in the past decade amid transformative antiviral advances for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) as
well as passage of the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act permitting HIV-to-HIV transplantation. Despite the
complex nature of this vulnerable population, neither the landscape of serious infections nor an understanding
of optimal immunosuppression to balance infection and kidney rejection risk has been defined. It is critical to
understand this paradigm as infection causes >20% of early deaths following KT and rejection, which results in
immunosuppressive intensification and a more susceptible host, is 2-4-fold more common in HIV+ KT
recipients.
The goals of this proposal include characterizing the burden, timing, and spectrum of serious infections after
HIV+ KT with comparison to matched HIV- KT recipients to understand differential risks associated with
recipient HIV status (Aim 1). This will be accomplished through development of the largest cohort of HIV+ KT
recipients to date by linking the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the US Renal Data System,
which also incorporates Centers for Medicare and Medicaid claims data to ascertain serious infection events.
Pharmacy clearinghouse data will augment infection, rejection, and antimicrobial prophylaxis ascertainment.
Next, among the population of HIV+ KT recipients, a risk factor analysis will be performed with focus on
biological variables and immunosuppressive regimens associated with developing serious post-transplant
infections (Aim 2). The goal of this analysis is to inform targeted monitoring and prophylaxis to prevent
infectious complications in HIV+ KT recipients. Finally, the association of donor HIV status with serious
infection risk will be explored through the robust infrastructure of the ongoing HOPE in Action multicenter
clinical trials of HIV-to-HIV KT (NCT03500315, Aim 3). This analysis will incorporate rich data on HIV+ organ
donors and recipients including hitherto unexplored HIV biology and laboratory markers, in the context of
robust infection and rejection reporting.
Taken together, this proposal seeks to delineate the landscape of serious infection among PLWH undergoing
KT in the modern era using a comprehensive infection ascertainment schema and rigorous epidemiologic
methods. Ultimately, the goal is to advance understanding of infectious complications in this unique and
emerging group and drive evidence-based practices that improve long-term post-KT outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10326892
- **Project number:** 1K23AI157893-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William Werbel
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $184,515
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-19 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10326892

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10326892, The Landscape of Serious Infections following Kidney Transplantation in People Living with HIV (1K23AI157893-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10326892. Licensed CC0.

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