Clinical Research Directory

Syk Inhibition in MItigating Lung Allograft Rejection (SIMILAR): A Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Fostamatinib in Lung Transplant Patients With Donor-Specific Antibodies

Background: People who have lung transplants often survive 6 or 7 years. But some people develop donor-specific antibodies (DSA) after their transplants; antibodies are proteins that attack foreign invaders in the body. Antibodies typically kill viruses and other agents that can cause disease. But when the antibodies attack a transplanted organ, they can cause the body to reject the new tissues. People who develop DSA after a transplant have a higher risk of death within 1 year. Objective: To test a drug called fostamatinib in people who develop DSA after a lung transplant. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 and older who developed DSA after a lung transplant. Design: Participants will continue with their standard care after a transplant. Fostamatinib is a pill taken by mouth. Some participants will take the study drug along with their standard care; others will take a placebo. A placebo is a pill that looks just like the real drug but contains no medicine. All participants will take 1 pill per day for 2 weeks. Then they will take 2 pills per day for the next 6 weeks. Participants will have clinic visits every 2 weeks while taking their pills. They will have a physical exam, with blood and urine tests, during each visit. If participants have fluid samples collected from their airways during their standard treatment, some extra fluid may be collected for this study. Participants will have a follow-up visit 4 weeks after they stop taking their pills.

Adaptation of Lung Transplant Recipients at Extreme Altitude

This prospective observational study investigates the effects of intermittent hypoxic conditioning and real high-altitude exposure in lung transplant recipients compared with healthy controls. The study includes an eight-week home-based preparatory phase during which participants use a normobaric hypoxic tent with reduced oxygen concentration. Prior to this phase, all participants receive standardized training on the safe use of the equipment. During the preparatory period, daily vital parameters, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability, are recorded using a sports watch and a pulse oximeter. Symptoms, adverse events, and subjective well-being are documented daily in an electronic diary. All data are transmitted to the study team via encrypted electronic systems, allowing continuous remote monitoring. At the end of the preparatory phase, participants undergo a clinical evaluation to confirm fitness for the expedition phase. The expedition phase consists of a monitored ascent of Aconcagua (6,971 meters). Before departure, all participants are required to attend a comprehensive safety, protection, and first aid training conducted jointly by the study team and professional expedition providers. The expedition is planned and led by an experienced international expedition company in cooperation with a local provider specializing in high-altitude mountaineering. The expedition includes arrival in Mendoza, preparatory procedures such as equipment checks and permits, followed by a staged ascent to base camp. Subsequent days involve rest periods and acclimatization hikes with the establishment of progressively higher camps. A summit attempt is planned after sufficient acclimatization, followed by descent to high camp. A weather-dependent buffer period is included before the final descent to the valley and return to Mendoza, where the expedition concludes. Total study participation is expected to last approximately 15 weeks, including about eight weeks of home-based preparation and approximately three weeks at altitude. A final follow-up examination is conducted 2 to 4 weeks after completion of the expedition, marking the end of study participation.

Trifecta-Lung cfDNA-MMDx Study

Demonstrate the relationship between dd-cfDNA levels and HLA antibodies in blood transplant recipient and Demonstrate the Molecular Microscope® (MMDx) Diagnostic System results in indication and protocol biopsies from lung transplants.

Prediction of Lung Transplant Outcome

Plain Language Summary of the PLUTO Study Prediction of Lung Transplant Outcomes (PLUTO) What is this study about? This study aims to improve how doctors predict the health of lung transplant recipients over time. Many people with severe lung disease need a transplant, but even after receiving a new lung, some still face serious health issues. One of the biggest problems is chronic lung transplant dysfunction (CLAD), which can slowly damage the new lung and is currently irreversible. What is the goal of the study? Researchers want to better understand why some people do worse after a lung transplant. Researchers hope to identify early warning signs and improve diagnosis. The main goal is to build a model that can predict how well a lung transplant will function over time, using routine health data and test results from transplant patients. Who can take part in this study? People aged 15 and older who had a lung transplant between 2009 and 2027 and are being followed at one of the study centers. People who speak French and have national health insurance. People who gave written consent (or whose guardians did, if under 18). The study may also use past data from deceased patients who did not object to research use. How will the study work? The study will follow about 4,200 lung transplant recipients across many centers in France. Researchers will collect clinical data, lung function tests, biopsy results, and blood samples. Researchers will also study new biomarkers (signals in the body that may show how well a transplant is doing) found in blood or lung samples. Using these data, the investigators will build and test tools to predict transplant outcomes. Why is this research important? By understanding early signs of transplant problems, doctors can act sooner and tailor treatment for each person. This may improve long-term survival after a lung transplant and help guide future research. How long is the study? Each participant will be followed for about 3 years, and the full study will last 6 years, including data analysis.

This Study is Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Immune Inhibition as a Treatment to Prevent Primary Graft Dysfunction

Lung transplant recipient survival lags other solid organ recipients, with the main early cause of death being primary graft dysfunction (PGD). PGD occurs in up to 1/3 of all recipients, is driven by the body's innate immune response, and has no known medical therapies for treatment or prevention. Investigators have recently shown that Natural Killer (NK) cells, a key innate immune cell, are critical in causing PGD. Importantly, the investigators found that Maraviroc, an FDA-approved drug that works to inhibit these immune cells, prevented lung injury in mouse models of PGD. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Maraviroc works to treat PGD in Lung Transplant patients who are above the age of 18 and have a PGD risk score greater than 50%. The objectives the study hopes to address are: To address the safety and tolerability of Maraviroc. To test a strategy for PGD enrichment in a lung transplant population. To measure the efficacy and biological efficacy of using Maraviroc. To study the biochemical, physiologic, and molecular effects of the drug on the body. This will be a double blind study where patients will either get the Maraviroc drug or a placebo. Researchers will then compare the two groups to address the above objectives. Participants will: Take drug Maraviroc or a placebo every 12 hours for 3 days post surgery. Follow up will occur during the entire length of stay at UCSF, about 16 days, with a single 12 month follow up once released.

TRAnscriptional Profile of Peripheral Blood Cells in Patient With Chronic Kidney and Lung Rejection: Correlation With Response to Extracorporeal Photo-aphereSiS

With this project, the research team aims to identify the molecular pathways associated with the response to extracorporeal photonchemioapheresis (ECP) in kidney or lung transplant patients suffering from chronic rejection, by analyzing gene expression in samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Inspiratory Muscle Training Immediately After Lung Transplantation

Following lung transplantation (LTX), patients may exhibit respiratory and skeletal muscle weakness that will affect exercise capacity, increase dyspnea and fatigue, limit activities of daily living (ADL) and decrease quality of life. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been extensively studied in a variety of non-LTX populations and research has shown that IMT improves exercise capacity, diaphragmatic thickness, and reduced dyspnea during activities of daily living and improved quality of life in patients with advanced lung disease. The aim of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the benefits of providing inspiratory muscle training via use of an inspiratory muscle trainer device in addition to standard physical therapy in the acute phase of rehabilitation following LTX. Patients targeted for enrollment will be those with any type of advanced lung disease requiring LTX with the objective of demonstrating improvements in respiratory muscle recovery, perceived dyspnea, severity of fatigue, and overall functional status following the transplant procedure.

Long-term Follow-up of the Offspring Born to Mothers With a Solid Organ Transplant, Transplantlines Next Generation

Background Pregnancy after all types of solid organ transplantation (SOT) is possible, although these have higher risk of pregnancy complications for mother and child, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. Thus, the development of the unborn child seems to be affected by the transplant and its consequences such as the immunosuppressive medication use. Worldwide data regarding follow-up after birth is scarce. The very limited existing data existing only in young children are reassuring. However, the investigators hypothesize that there are health risks for the children. Given the side effects of the immunosuppressive medication on patients and limited knowledge from animal studies, the investigators particularly expect cardiovascular effects such as hypertension and kidney damage. These develop over a long time-period and lead late to symptoms. Aims Aim of this study is to gain more insight into the overall health of offspring born after SOT. Primary aim is to assess the cardiovascular health and the presence of kidney disease, and compare these with reference values from the general population or birth cohorts. Secondary aims are the immunological status including the microbiome of the child given the maternal immunosuppressive medication use, and the overall development of the offspring, including qualitative research regarding the quality of life. Third aim is to assess if there are differences in health between offspring born to mothers with a kidney, liver, pancreas (including pancreas islet), heart and lung transplantation (KTx, LiTx, PTx, HTx, LuTx resp.). The investigators also want to establish a biobank for later follow-up research. Study design This will be a cross-sectional monocenter cohort study. All offspring ≥16 years of age born after KTx or LiTx and all offspring born at any age after PTx, HTx and LuTx in the Netherlands will be eligible for inclusion. The investigators estimate that there will be about 150(-220) participants. Before the study visit, participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Participants will be invited for a one-time study visit consisting of physical tests (including ultrasound of the kidneys and a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement) and biological sample (urine, blood and feces) collection, including sample collection for biobanking. Information about the growth and development of the offspring and, if present, diseases and medication use will be collected from the medical files of the general practitioner and pharmacy (LSP) and from data from the youth healthcare check-ups. As a control group pseudoanonymized data from the Lifelines cohort will be used. Deliverables To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study worldwide that will gather and analyze detailed information about the cardiovascular, kidney and immunological health at a later age (≥16 years) in the offspring born to mothers after KTx, LiTx, PTx, HTx and LuTx. This information will be important for the preconceptional counseling of families with a pregnancy wish after transplantation and thereby contribute to the health of women with a SOT. Next to that, find adverse effects of the pregnancy after transplantation on the offspring are found, the investigators expect there will be modifiable factors and/or early screening/interventions that can reduce these risks and thereby contribute to the health of the offspring.

Impact of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) With Intermittent Variable Resistance (IVR) Versus Constant Resistance (CR) on Functional Capacity in Lung Transplantation (LTx) Patients (I-TRAIN-LTx Study)

\- Objectives: Primary Objective: To compare Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) in lung transplant (LT) patients between the use of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with intermittent variable resistance (IVR) or constant resistance (CR) during the first six months post-transplant. Secondary Objectives: To determine whether there are differences in the outcomes of IMT with IVR and IMT with CR in the six-minute walk test, spirometry values, and arterial blood gas analysis within the first six months post-transplant. To analyze the influence of relevant clinical conditions on dependent variables in both groups: duration of mechanical ventilation during the immediate postoperative period of LT and presence of diaphragmatic paralysis. To analyze the proportion of patients with Baseline Lung Allograft Dysfunction (BLAD) in both intervention groups. \- Methodology: Design: Open-label, two-arm, randomized clinical trial. Intervention: Random allocation into: CR Group: Will perform IMT at 30% of MIP. IVR Group: Will perform IMT at 30% and 60% of MIP. Population and Sample: Patients undergoing lung transplantation. Demographic and LT-related variables: Sex, date of birth, height, weight, body mass index, type of transplant, underlying disease leading to transplantation, phrenic paralysis, length of stay in the intensive care unit, days on mechanical ventilation, primary graft dysfunction, and acute rejection. Dependent Variables: MIP, spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, six-minute walk test, and BLAD criteria.

OCS™ Lung TOP Registry For Donor Lungs for Transplantation

Single-arm, prospective, multi-center, post-approval U.S. registry

Identifying Genetic Characteristics That Increase Risk of Primary Graft Dysfunction Following Lung Transplantation

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a severe lung injury that can occur in the days following lung transplant surgery. The purpose of this study is to identify genetic factors that may put someone at risk for developing PGD.

Risk Factors That Increase the Chance of Developing Primary Graft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a severe lung complication that can occur in the days after lung transplant surgery. This study will analyze blood samples to determine if high levels of certain chemicals may increase the risk of developing PGD after a lung transplant.

Lung Transplant Candidates: Effects of Aerobic vs. HIIT Training on ICF Assessments

Lung transplantation is a crucial surgical intervention aimed at increasing survival rates in patients with end-stage lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. One of the most important determinants of health outcomes before and after lung transplantation is exercise capacity. An increase in the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), which serves as a measure of functional exercise capacity, is associated with lower mortality rates in both pre- and post-transplantation settings. Therefore, effective rehabilitation programs are needed to enhance the exercise capacities of lung transplant candidates. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a comprehensive program designed specifically for individuals with chronic respiratory diseases. PR aims to improve patients\' physical and psychological conditions through detailed assessments and personalized treatment plans. It can play a role in enhancing the preoperative exercise capacities of lung transplant candidates and improving their chances of successful health outcomes. However, lung transplant candidates often have more advanced lung disease and face greater challenges compared to typical patients undergoing PR, making the expected benefits more complex to achieve. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in lung transplant candidates with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The first objective is to compare the physiological responses and effectiveness of HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) within the same exercise volume. The secondary aim is to evaluate the impact of HIIT on body structure and function, activity, and participation levels using ICF-based assessments.

Electrical Activity of the Diaphragm and Respiratory Mechanics During NAVA

Protective ventilatory strategy should be applied to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) after Lung Transplantation (LTx) or in case of acute respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) is an assisted ventilation mode in which respiratory support is coordinated by the electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi). Aim of the study is to assess the physiological relationship between neural respiratory drive, as assessed by EAdi, and tidal volume, driving pressure, and mechanical power, at different levels of ventilatory assist, in the absence of pulmonary vagal afferent feedback or during acute respiratory failure. Additional parameters will be collected: Pmus, Pocc, transpulmonary pressure etc.

Study of Tacrolimus Melt-Dose® for Lung Transplant Patients

To evaluate, under usual clinical practice conditions and with a 12-month follow-up , the most relevant pharmacokinetic parameters of tacrolimus metabolism and safety, in patients with recent lung transplant (unilateral or bilateral) treated with LCPT.

Prospective Observational Pilot Study of LMWH Versus UFH as ECMO Anticoagulation in Lung Transplantation

The aim of this observational pilot study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH) as anticoagulation in perioperative ECMO during bilateral lung transplantation. The main question this study seeks to answer is: Does LMWH provide a safe and effective alternative to UFH for ECMO anticoagulation in lung transplantation, with reduced bleeding and thrombotic complications? Patients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation with perioperative veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO support will be assigned to one of two anticoagulation strategies: UFH group: Standard UFH anticoagulation monitored using ROTEM. LMWH group: Enoxaparin-based anticoagulation monitored using ROTEM. The study will assess perioperative blood loss, hemoglobin levels, transfusion needs, and thrombotic events. Additional analyses will include coagulation profile assessments using point-of-care (POC) tests, thrombin generation test (TGT), and laboratory coagulation parameters.

Transplanting Lungs From Uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death

The study team developed an uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD) protocol that preserves lungs for just over 3 hours after death using positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) and supplemental oxygen. The study will assess lung uDCD program safety by continuous review of operations/clinical records from each case activation and transplantation. Attrition outcomes include rates of initial and continued lung preservation, donation authorization, lung recovery, passing ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) performance testing, and lung transplantation. Planned viability assessments also include macroscopic determination, radiology (X-ray), and fiber optic bronchoscopy before initiating EVLP. We expect \~50% of lungs assessed with EVLP will be transplanted to meet sustainability targets. Safety outcomes include the primary outcome, primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grade III at 72 hours, and secondarily survival one year after transplantation.

LAM-001 in Lung Transplant Recipients With Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the safety and effectiveness of LAM-001 in patients who have developed bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), a form of chronic rejection, after lung transplantation. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is LAM-001 safe in these patients? * Is LAM-001 effective in slowing BOS progression? Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to inhale either LAM-001 or placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no active drug) daily for 48 weeks * Attend 10 study visits (mixture of in-person and telehealth) over the 48 week period * Undergo pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy, lab testing, and physical examination * Submit weekly home spirometry monitoring Researchers will compare participants assigned to LAM-001 versus placebo to see if LAM-001 is safely tolerated and to assess the effectiveness of LAM-001 on slowing BOS progression.

Microplastics in the Human Respiratory System

Environmental pollution from plastics has become a significant global issue, with microplastics-tiny particles resulting from plastic degradation-being increasingly detected in various environments, including aquatic ecosystems, soil, and air. These particles can enter the human body through ingestion or inhalation. Despite growing concerns, little is known about the prevalence and types of microplastics in human lungs. Some studies suggest that microplastics may negatively impact respiratory function and lead to lung diseases. Hypothetically, they could cause inflammation, metabolic disorders, and contribute to lung cancer development. However, research is still in its early stages, and conclusive evidence about the mechanisms linking microplastics to negative health effects is lacking. This study aims to quantify and characterize microplastics in the lung parenchyma and lymph nodes of patients with lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Tissue samples will be collected during surgeries, and microplastic particles will be detected using FTIR microspectroscopy. The research may contribute to a better understanding of the role of microplastics in the development of respiratory diseases.

Quantiferon CMV to Identify Treatment Need for Asymptomatic CMV Infection After Solid Organ Transplant (QUANTIFOT)

Context Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a frequent and potentially severe event in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Most of available treatment display adverse effects that limit their use. Therefore, in case of an infection, it is of primary importance to identify the patients at high risk of severe infection and/or disease, and who ill benefit the most from antiviral therapy. As CMV infection is mainly controlled by cellular immunity, measuring specific anti-CMV T lymphocyte immunity could be an interesting tool for identifying these at-risk individuals. One of these tests is the QuantiFERON-CMV (QF-CMV) assay (QuiagenTM, Courtabœuf, France). Aim of the study The aim of the study is to determine the extent to which the QF-CMV can be use to identify, among SOT recipients with a CMV viremia, those that may not need antiviral therapy. Methods Participation to the study will be proposed to SOT recipients with an asymptomatic CMV infection with a blood viral load between 1,000 and 15,000 IU/mL. The QF-CMV will be performed in included participants, and the result will be given or not to the clinician in charge (according to the attributed group through randomisation). * In the group without result communication, the clinician in charge will determine whether a treatment is needed according to the guidelines and the local practices. * in the group with result communication, the clinician in charge will be advised not to introduce antiviral therapy if the result is positive, and to determine whether a treatment is needed according to the guidelines and the local practices if the result is positive. In the following weeks, the viral load will be monitored, along with creatininemia, cell blood count, and kalemia (to detect antiviral adverse effect). The participants will be sampled: * 5 to 12 days after QF-CMV sampling (V2) ; * 7 to 14 days days after V2 (V3 - between D12 and D26) ; * 7 to 14 days days after V3 (V4 - between D19 and D40) . Endpoints The primary endpoint is the rate of uncontrolled infection 5 to 12 days after QF-CMV sampling, defined as follows: * Blood CMV viral load \>10,000 IU/mL \[4 log\]; * And/or increase in blood viral load ≥0.5 log IU/mL with CV otherwise \>5000 IU/mL; * And/or the onset of CMV disease. The secondary endpoint is the is the occurrence antiviral adverse effects (hematoxicity or nephrotoxicity).

Sleep-disordered Breathing After Solid Organ Transplantation

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) describes a group of disorders in which partial or complete cessation of breathing occurs many times throughout the night, resulting in daytime sleepiness or fatigue that interferes with a person's ability to function and reduces quality of life. Transplantation has become an important treatment modality for end-stage organ failure. Transplant recipients are now living longer and, hence, develop chronic adverse medical conditions. Furthermore, transplantation is associated with weight gain. Despite the high prevalence of poor sleep and cardiovascular conditions among transplant patients, SDB is not well studied in these patients.

Clinical Study Evaluating Two Treatment Protocols for Immunosuppressive Drugs. Looking at 3-year Incidence of CLAD.

A controlled randomized, open-label, multi-centre study evaluating if an immunosuppressive protocol, based on ATG-induction, once daily tacrolimus-dose (Advagraf®), mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroid reduces the incidence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) after lung transplantation, in comparison with a standard cyclosporin-based protocol.