Clinical Research Directory

Cidofovir Versus Best Supportive Care for Hemorrhagic Cystitis

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if adding cidofovir to the standard of care can improve symptoms of hemorrhagic cystitis caused by the BK virus as compared to standard of care alone. The safety of cidofovir will also be studied.

High vs. Standard Dose Influenza Vaccine in Adult SOT Recipients

The influenza virus is a significant cause of morbidity in adult solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, these individuals show a suboptimal response to vaccines including the standard-dose (SD) inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). Recent studies have investigated two strategies to overcome poor immune responses in SOT recipients: (1) administration of high-dose (HD)-IIV compared to SD-IIV and (2) two doses of SD-IIV compared to one dose of SD-IIV in the same influenza season. The first study compared HD-IIV vs. SD-IIV in adult SOT and noted HD-IIV was safe and reported higher immunogenicity; however, the median post-transplant period was 38 months. In another phase II trial of adult SOT recipients, two doses of SD-IIV a month apart compared to one-dose SD-IIV revealed increased immunogenicity, with a median post-transplantation period of 18 months. Therefore, these studies lack evaluation in the early post-transplantation period in this vulnerable population when influenza disease is most severe. The administration of two-doses of HD-IIV in the same influenza season has also not been studied in SOT recipients. Moreover, the vast majority of SOT influenza vaccinations studies have not substantively evaluated prolonged immunogenicity. Thus, the optimal immunization strategy for SOT recipients less than 12 months post-transplant is poorly-defined. In addition, the immunologic predictors and correlates of influenza vaccine immunogenicity in SOT recipients have not been defined. The investigators hypothesize that adult solid organ transplant recipients that are 1-11 months out from transplant and are receiving high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine will have higher hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) geometric mean titers to influenza A antigens compared to adult SOT recipients receiving standard-dose inactivated influenza vaccine. To test this hypothesis and address the above critical knowledge gaps, The investigators propose to conduct a phase II multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing either two doses HD-IIV, two doses of SD-IIV, or one-dose of HD-IIV in adult kidney, heart, and liver SOT recipients 1-11 months post-transplantation. The results of this study will address significant gaps in knowledge regarding influenza vaccine strategies and immune responses in adult SOT recipients and will guide vaccine recommendations in this vulnerable population.

High vs. Standard Dose Influenza Vaccine in Lung Allograft Recipients

Lung allograft recipients have a higher burden of influenza disease and greater associated morbidity and mortality compared with healthy controls. Induction and early maintenance immunosuppression is thought to impair immunogenicity to standard dose inactivated influenza vaccine. This early post-transplant period is when immunity is most desirable, since influenza disease during this time frame is associated with adverse consequences. Thus, strategies to reduce severe influenza disease in this highly susceptible population are critical. No trials in lung transplant recipients have evaluated two doses of HD-IIV within the same influenza season as a strategy to improve immunogenicity and durability of influenza prevention. Furthermore, no influenza vaccine trials have focused on enrollment of subjects at early post-transplant timepoints. Very few studies have been performed in solely lung allograft recipients. Immunosuppression intensity is highest in lung patients, thereby limiting comparisons to recipients of heart, liver, and kidney transplants. Therefore, studies to assess both HD-IIV and two-dose strategies in the same influenza season in post-lung transplant recipients are greatly needed. The central hypothesis of our proposal is that lung allograft recipients who are 1-35 months post-transplant and receiving two doses of HD-quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV) will have higher HAI geometric mean titers (GMT) to influenza antigens compared to those receiving two doses of SD-QIV. To test this hypothesis and address the above critical knowledge gaps, we propose to conduct a phase II, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled immunogenicity and safety trial comparing the administration of two doses of HD-QIV to two doses of SD-QIV in lung allograft recipients 1-35 months post-transplant. The results of this clinical trial will address significant knowledge gaps regarding influenza vaccine strategies (e.g., one vs. two doses and HD-QIV vs. SD-QIV) and immune responses in lung transplant recipients and will guide vaccine recommendations during the post-transplant period.

Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Acyclovir in Oncologic Paediatric Patients

* Herpesvirus infections may be severe in immunocompromised patients, with a high risk of complications and mortality. * Recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or patients receiving high-intensity chemotherapy for hematological malignancies are the most vulnerable individuals. * Although the worldwide prevalence of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), antiviral prophylaxis in seropositive HSCT recipients has significantly reduced the rate of infection. * Acyclovir (ACV) is the first-choice drug for the prophylaxis or the therapy of that kind of infection. * Since the beginning, ACV has demonstrated to be characterized by a large interpatient variability, especially in children. * Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies may help in optimizing drug in children with malignancies.

High vs.Standard Dose Influenza Vaccine in Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) Recipients

Influenza virus is a significant pathogen in pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, these individuals respond poorly to standard-dose (SD) inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV). Recent studies have investigated two strategies to overcome poor immune responses in SOT recipients: (1) administration of high-dose (HD)-IIV compared to SD-IIV and (2) two doses of SD-IIV compared to one dose of SD-IIV in the same influenza season. One study compared HD-IIV vs. SD-IIV in adult SOT recipients and noted that HD-IIV was safe and more immunogenic; however, the median post-transplant period was 38 months. A phase I pediatric study comparing a single dose of HD-IIV vs. SD-IIV was safe with higher immunogenicity, but the study was limited by small sample size and median post-transplant vaccine administration was 26 months. In another phase II trial of adult SOT recipients, two doses of SD-IIV one month apart compared to one-dose of SD-IIV revealed modestly increased immunogenicity when given at a median of 18 months post-transplant. Therefore, these studies lack both evaluation in the early post-transplant period and substantive pediatric populations. Additionally, the administration of two-doses of HD-IIV in the same influenza season has not been evaluated in pediatric SOT recipients. Thus, the optimal immunization strategy for pediatric SOT recipients less than 24 months post-transplant is unknown. In addition, immunologic predictors and correlates of influenza vaccine immunogenicity in pediatric SOT recipients have not been well-defined. The central hypothesis of our proposal is that pediatric SOT recipients 1-23 months post-transplant who receive two doses of HD-quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV) will have similar safety but higher Hemagglutination Inhibition (HAI) geometric mean titers (GMTs) to influenza antigens compared to pediatric SOT recipients receiving two doses of SD-QIV.

Prevalence and Outcome of SARS-CoV-2 Infection & COVID-19 in Transplant Recipients: The COVITRA Study

This project will provide novel data using a large cohort of more than 3000 transplanted patients. Risk and protective factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease severity will be identified. The proportion of patients who develop antibodies after infection will be revealed. In this way the presence of these antibodies can be evaluated as a test for prior infection. Our study additionally will demonstrate how long these antibodies remain present and whether they are protective against a new infection.

Molecular Biological and Moleculargenetic Monitoring of Therapy After Kidney Transplantation

Molecular monitoring is conducted in blood cells, plasma samples, urine samples and/or tissue from patients after kidney transplantation. In the present study the investigators examine the hypothesis that noninvasive diagnostic molecular monitoring can improve the outcome after transplantation. Routine clinical and laboratory data from serum and urine are evaluated at baseline and after 0-1-2-3-4-12-16-52 weeks and 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 years after kidney transplantation. Mononuclear cells were obtained from the blood and transcripts of several diagnostic genes (including GATA3 (Trans-acting T-cell-specific transcription factor3), GATA4 (Trans-acting T-cell-specific transcription factor4), GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), TRPC3 (Transient receptor potential cononical type3), TRPC6 (Transient receptor potential cononical type6), granzyme B, perforin, FOXP3 (Forkhead box P3), ISG15 (Interferon-stimulated gene 15), Mx1 (Interferon-induced GTP-binding protein), MMP3 (Matrix metalloproteinase-3), MMP9 (Matrix metalloproteinase-9), long-non-coding RNA, and others) are quantified using standard quantitative RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) techniques. Proteomic analysis were performed in plasma and urine samples. Polymorphisms of selected genes are analyzed using standard techniques. Data are analyzed by descriptive statistics. Differences between groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis-test and Dunn's multiple comparison post-test, as appropriate. Associations between variables are analyzed using regression analyses. Contingency tables are analyzed using Fisher's exact test.

TransplantLines Food and Nutrition Biobank and Cohort Study (TxL-FN)

Short-term (1-year) results of renal transplantation are now excellent (over 95%). Long-term (10-year and longer) results are, however, still disappointing. Where most research has focused on immunosuppression and infections, the investigators hypothesize that due to poor homeostatic capacity and necessary use of immunosuppressive and other drugs, renal transplant recipients are much more susceptible to poor dietary habits and exposure to potentially toxic contaminants than people of the general population, and that this contributes to accelerated function loss of the graft and excess risk of premature mortality, both contributing to poor long-term results. This study is a biobank and cohort study which investigates this hypothesis.