This $499,957 Project Grant awarded by the Defense Health Agency under the Military Medical Research and Development program (CFDA 12.420) supports research by The Johns Hopkins University to investigate extracellular vesicle-mediated PD-L1 upregulation in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) grafts for immune tolerance. The research aims to advance understanding of mechanisms for improving immune tolerance in VCA transplants, which have potential applications for improving outcomes for military service members. The 2-year grant period runs from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026. The Johns Hopkins University has previously been awarded federal grants and contracts from agencies such as the NIH, CDC, and DoD to conduct biomedical research, provide specialized training, and deliver immunization safety assessments.