# 14/14 APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Scientific Data Research Center

> **NIH NIH U01** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $1,077,381

## Abstract

The NIH APOL1 Long-term Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Collaborative U01 is performing a
national prospective evaluation of donor and recipient apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) risk variants in US kidney
transplants from African American donors to determine their effect on transplant outcomes. In addition, post-
donation health and kidney function of African American living kidney donors will be assessed. We are applying
to continue serving as the APOLLO Scientific and Data Research Center (SDRC). Shorter renal allograft survival
is observed for transplantations from deceased African American kidney donors, relative to deceased European
American kidney donors. Reasons for this are unknown, but retrospective reports suggest that presence of two
APOL1 risk variants in kidney donors may contribute to the disparity. These variants are common in populations
with recent African ancestry (such as African Americans), where they are strongly associated with chronic kidney
disease, but rare in other racial/ethnic groups. APOL1 genotype data may provide more accurate assessment
of the likelihood for long-term renal allograft function in donor kidneys, thereby improving matching of donor
kidneys with potential recipients in order to optimize renal allograft and patient survival. This information may
better inform physicians about organ quality prior to making decisions on allocation. It may also inform the safety
of living kidney donation. Before APOL1 genotypes can be used clinically, the prospective national APOLLO
study was required to evaluate kidney transplant outcomes from African American donors and recipients of their
kidneys based on APOL1. APOLLO collects information lacking from retrospective studies, including recipient
APOL1 genotypes, renal histology in engrafted kidneys and presence or development of BK viral infections,
donor specific antibodies, and acute rejections after kidney transplantation. We apply to continue to perform
these activities for the APOLLO Network: overall study coordination, assist with ensuring compliance with the
Protocol and Manual of Procedures, maintain data tracking tools and the study website, collect and archive
clinical and outcomes data, perform genotyping, statistical analyses, assessment of outcomes including the
primary outcome “time to allograft failure in transplanted kidneys from African American donors based on donor
APOL1 genotypes”, and complete the bio-repository. We will longitudinally assess vital status, kidney function
and proteinuria in living African American kidney donors based on APOL1 genotypes and prospectively assess
effects of donor APOL1 genotypes on serum creatinine concentration, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and
proteinuria in kidney transplant recipients with functioning grafts. APOLLO results have the potential to transform
the organ allocation and informed consent processes in kidney transplantation, optimize renal allograft survival,
reduce discard of good-quality k...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10917371
- **Project number:** 5U01DK116041-08
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicholette D. Allred
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,077,381
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10917371

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10917371, 14/14 APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) Scientific Data Research Center (5U01DK116041-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10917371. Licensed CC0.

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