Why do kidney transplants fail in young people? A genomic analysis

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Why do kidney transplants fail in young people? Genomic analysis enriching proteomic data

  • IRAS ID

    333982

  • Contact name

    Gareth McKay

  • Contact email

    g.j.mckay@qub.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Queen's University Belfast

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 7 months, 18 days

  • Research summary

    End-stage kidney disease is increasingly common and people with this condition die decades earlier than a healthy person of similar age. Kidney transplantation is the best treatment providing improved quality of life and much longer survival.

    Unfortunately, younger people appear to be at higher risk of losing their transplant; having a devastating impact on their physical and mental health. It remains unclear why kidney transplants fail so early in young people.

    We have previously examined how certain proteins in the blood are expressed differently in younger transplant recipients compared to older recipients. These differences many be linked to the increased risk of transplant rejection. We want to do additional genetic analysis and use this in combination with our research into blood proteins to help us better understand the biological processes causing transplant rejection.

    This study could help identify biological reasons why young people lose their kidney transplant earlier. This work also has the potential to identify biomarkers that could be used as a blood test to identify persons at higher risk of transplant rejection.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/YH/0280

  • Date of REC Opinion

    1 Dec 2023

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion