Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University a Project Grant of $690,359 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. The research initiative, titled "Regulation of Donor Specific Antibody Production," focuses on addressing antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) in renal transplantation through investigation of the lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG3) as a regulatory mechanism for B cell responses. The research will examine LAG3's role in controlling donor-specific antibody (DSA) production and plasma cell function, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets to prevent or mitigate ABMR, which represents one of the leading causes of renal transplant loss.

The project will utilize murine kidney transplant models and related experimental approaches to elucidate LAG3-mediated regulation of antibody responses and develop potential treatment strategies that could improve upon current limited therapeutic options for ABMR management. By advancing the scientific understanding of B cell activation and differentiation pathways in transplantation, this research aims to generate knowledge and methodological advances supporting the development of improved clinical interventions for transplant recipients facing humoral rejection.