# Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Transplant Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TA-TMA): A Prospective Validation Cohort Study

> **NIH NIH K23** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $174,669

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Approximately 10,000 patients receive an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT)
annually in the United States. Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is a
rare but often fatal hematologic complication that manifests with uncontrolled microangiopathic
hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia, microvascular thrombosis, and in severe cases,
permanent neurologic or kidney dysfunction. We recently completed a large retrospective cohort
study to elucidate the incidence of and clinical risk factors for TA-TMA. Building upon the
previous experience, our objectives in the current proposal are to test these clinical predictors
and laboratory biomarkers associated with TA-TMA development in an independent prospective
pediatric cohort to improve early detection and risk stratification. We propose the following aims:
Aim 1: To determine the incidence and early post-transplant risk factors for TA-TMA in a
prospective pediatric cohort study that incorporates the use of clinical informatics. Aim 2: To test
a dynamic risk prediction tool for TA-TMA that incorporates validated clinical and laboratory
biomarkers in immune, endothelial, and complement activation pathways.
The K23 award applicant, Dr. Ang Li, is well-qualified to conduct the proposed project. He is
committed to becoming an independently funded patient-oriented physician scientist in benign
hematology. He has proposed a comprehensive five-year career development plan to help his
transition from supervised research to independence. Specifically, he envisions a strong
mentorship panel, a formal advisory committee, a realistic coursework training in epidemiology,
biostatistics, clinical informatics, and bioethics. The Section of Hematology (primary affiliation)
and Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences (secondary affiliation) at Baylor College
of Medicine offer an ideal research training environment and the Institution is fully committed to
his career development.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10817816
- **Project number:** 5K23HL159271-03
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Ang Li
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $174,669
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10817816

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10817816, Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Transplant Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TA-TMA): A Prospective Validation Cohort Study (5K23HL159271-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10817816. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*