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Past Research

Fostering transformative, multidisciplinary transplantation and immunology research opportunities

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Grant Recipients List

The AST has committed to driving continuous innovation and cultivating emerging researchers since 1995. The AST grants program helps investigators advance the field in solid organ transplantation and immunology.

Career Development Grants

Fosters early investigators' commitment to careers in transplantation research

Justin Steggerda, MD

| Cedars Sinai Medical Center

AST/Gift of Life Translational Early Faculty Development Grant

Research Title: Effects of C1 Esterase Inhibitor on Complement Activation During Ex Vivo Perfusion of Discarded Kidney Allografts

2024

Afsana Naaz, PhD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Basic Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Temporo-local Targeting of Dysregulated Repair Responses to Prevent Chronic Heart Transplant Rejection

2024

Victor Tkachev, PhD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network/Veloxis Basic Early Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Role of Vasculature-associated CX3CR1+ CD8+T-effector Cells in Acute Cellular Rejection of Lung Allograft

2024

Alberto Pinsino, MD

| Columbia University Irving Medical Center

AST Research Network/Sanofi Clinical Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Cystatin C and Serum Creatinine for Kidney Function Assessment in Heart Transplantation Candidates and Recipients: A Comparative Analysis Against Iohexol Plasma Clearance

2024

Jake Natalini, MD

| New York University Grossman School of Medicine

AST Research Network/Kidney Pancreas Community of Practice Clinical Early Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Longitudinal Microbial-Host Signatures and Risk for Acute Cellular Rejection in Lung Transplantation

2024

Jessica Harding, PhD

| Emory University

AST Research Network/Sanofi Clinical Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Gender Disparities in Kidney Transplantation: Identifying Factors Associated with Low Transplant Referral, Evaluation, and Waitlisting among Women with End-Stage Kidney Disease

2023

Nikolaos Skartsis, MD, PhD

| Mayo Clinic, Rochester

AST Research Network/Sanofi Basic Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Mechanisms of Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis within Inflammatory Environments

2023

Eve Roth, MD

| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

AST Research Network/Gift of Life Clinical Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Financial Burden in Liver and Kidney Transplant Patients

2023

Alyssa Mezochow, MD

| Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

AST Research Network/Takeda Clinical Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Infection Risk and Outcomes with Increasing Use of Temporary Mechanical Support Devices following 2018 UNOS Heart Allocation Policy Change

2023

Jing Zhao, MD

| Brigham and Women's Hospital

AST Research Network/Ajmera Transplant Centre Basic Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Implication of Melanocortin 2 Receptor (MC2R) in Transplant Tolerance

2023

Hilary Miller-Handley, MD

| University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

AST Research Network/Veloxis Translational Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Clinical Rejection in a Mouse Model: CD8+ T Cells Impact on Rejection Secondary to Non-adherence

2023

Ricardo Mora Cartin, PhD

| University of Chicago

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Basic Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Addressing Vulnerabilities to the Maintenance of Transplantation Tolerance using a Bacterial Infection Model

2023

Rhiannon Reed, DrPH

| University of Alabama at Birmingham

AST Research Network/Veloxis Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Assessing Support Needs of Kidney Disease Caregivers

2022

Nicole Valenzuela, PhD, D(ABHI)

| UC Regents

AST Research Network/Takeda Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Epigenetic Regulation of Vascular Inflammation in Transplant Rejection

2022

Carrie Thiessen, MD

| University of Wisconsin

AST Research Network/Gift of Life Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: A Liver for a Kidney: Exploring the Feasibility and Ethics of Trans-organ Exchanges

2022

Cindy Avalos, PhD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/Verici Dx Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant in memory of Dr. Barbara Murphy

Research Title: Small Extracellular Vesicles as Regulators of Dendritic Cell Maturation and Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

2022

Neda Feizi, PhD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/Sanofi Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: B cells in Tertiary Lymphoid Organs during Chronic Allograft Rejection

2022

Michael Nicosia, PhD

| Cleveland Clinic

AST Research Network/CareDx Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: A Novel Approach to Prevent Costimulatory Blockade Resistant Heart Allograft Rejection

2022

Alexandra Bahn-Humphrey, MD

| Emory University

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Clinical Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: CD11b-CD154 Interaction as Novel Target for Transplant Immunosuppression

2022

Cynthia Miller, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Induction of Heart Allograft Tolerance in Non-Human Primates (NHPs) by Combining Mixed Chimerism with IL-6 Signaling Blockade

2022

Ruben Nava, MD

| Washington University in Saint Louis

AST Research Network/Veloxis Translational Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Role of B cells in Primary Graft Dysfunction after Lung Transplantation

2021

Brian Wong, PhD

| Washington University in St.Louis

AST Research Network/Novartis Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: The Role of Fatty Acid ß-oxidation in Monocyte Differentiation and Function in Heart Allograft Rejection

2021

Leigh Anne Dageforde, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network/Gift of Life Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Medication and Wellness Intervention for Weight Loss after Liver Transplantation

2021

Camilla Nonterah, PhD

| University of Richmond

AST Research Network/Mallinckrodt Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: The Development of the Barriers in Access to Transplantation Scale

2021

Daniel Firl, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network/Mallinckrodt Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Genetic Engineering of Strategies to Modulate the Xenograft Microenvironment

2021

Jing Zhao, MD

| Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

AST Research Network/Sanofi Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Nanodelivery of Therapeutics to Organs to Improve Transplant Otcomes

2021

Sarah Kemme, MD

| Children's Hospital Colorado

AST Research Network/CareDx Clinical Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Immune Response and Clearance of Viral DNA and RNA Following Administration of Live Attenuated Varicella and Measles Vaccines in Children with Liver Disease

2021

Simon Cleary, PhD

| University of California, San Francisco

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Improving Understanding of the Immunopathogenesis of Chronic Rejection after Lung Transplantation

2021

Shaifali Sandal, MD

| McGill University

AST Research Network/Gift of Life Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Identifying System-Level Barriers to Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Comparative Case Analysis

2020

Qing Ding, MD PhD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: The Regulatory Role of Plasma Cells (as IL-10+ PCregs) is Counterbalanced by a NOVEL Inflammatory Role (as IL-17+ PCeff)

2020

Michaela Anderson, MD MS

| Columbia University

AST Research Network/Mallinckrodt Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Visceral Adipose Tissue and Frailty in Advanced Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

2020

Ana Catalina Alvarez Elias, MD, MSc

| The Hospital for Sick Children

AST Research Network/Robert P. and Mariana R. Scripps Family Foundation Clinical Science Fellowship Research Grant in memory of Adam R. Scripps

Research Title: Association of Calcineurin Inhibitors with Chronic Kidney Disease after Non-renal Solid Organ Transplantation in Children

2020

Yang Yang, PhD

| McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of Eosinophils in Tissue Repair after Hepatic ischemia Reperfusion Injury

2020

William Werbel, MD

| Johns Hopkins University

AST Research Network/Sanofi Clinical Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Risk Factors for Serious Infection among HIV+ Kidney Transplant Recipients

2020

John Choi, MD

| Brigham and Women's Hospital

AST Research Network Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Novel Role of Qa-1, a Murine Homolog of HLA-E, in Controlling Follicular Helper T Cells during Alloimmune Response

2020

Mamatha Bhat, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCPC

| University Health Network and University of Toronto

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Translational Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Immunosuppressants Increase Hepatic Lipogenesis through Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiome

2019

Arun Cumpelik, MD PhD

| Mount Sinai School of Medicine

AST Research Network/Sanofi Genzyme Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: The Role of Decay Accelerating Factor (DAF) on Germinal Center B-cells in Humoral Allo-immunity

2019

Taylor Coe, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of IdeS in Depletion of IgG to Reduce Antibody Mediated Graft Damage in Non-Human Primate Liver Xenotransplantation

2019

Kryscilla Yang, MD

| Columbia University

AST Research Network/AST Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: T-Cell Receptor Deep Sequencing To Distinguish Autoimmune Recurrence From Allograft Rejection in Liver Transplant Patients with Autoimmune Liver Disease

2019

Ibrahim Batal, MD

| Columbia University

AST Research Network/Astellas Translational Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: The Clinicopathologic Significance of Graft Dendritic Cells and Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Kidney Allograft Inflammation and Outcome

2018

Matthew Kadatz, MD, FRCPC

| University of British Columbia

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Clinical Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Towards Removing Cost as a Barrier to Performance of High Risk Kidney Transplants: A Cost-Effective Analysis of Kidney Transplantation in Elderly Recipients using Lower Quality Deceased Donor Kidneys

2018

Daniel Dugger, PhD, DVM, DACVECC

| University of California, San Francisco

AST Research Network/AST Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Targeting Regulatory T Lymphocyte Therapy in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction

2018

Mayara Garcia de Mattos Barbosa, BSc, PhD, MSc

| University of Michigan

AST Research Network Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Genetic Determinants of B cell Responses in Transplantation

2018

Holly Mansell, PharmD

| University of Saskatchewan

AST Research Network/AST Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Improving Adherence in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Post-Transplant Education Intervention

2018

Jason Ossart, PhD, MSc

| Starzl Transplantation Institute, University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/AST Frontiers in Transplantation Endowment Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of Dendritic Cells in Regulatory CD4+ T Cell Function within Allografts

2018

Wayne Tsuang, MD, MHS

| Cleveland Clinic

AST Research Network/Astellas Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Improving Access to Lung Transplant with Broader Geographic Sharing

2017

Anne Cherry, MD

| Duke University

AST Research Network/Novartis Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Interface of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Immune Activation in Heterotopic Mouse Heart Transplant

2017

Scott Krummey, MD, PhD

| Emory University School of Medicine

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Dual Coinhibitor Receptor Signaling to Restrain Graft-Specific Memory T-Helper 17 Cell Responses

2017

Mark Snyder, MD

| Columbia University Medical Center

AST Research Network Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of Tissue Resident Memory T Cells in Both Acute and Chronic Rejection Following Lung Transplantation

2017

Ines Llaudo, PhD

| Icahn School of Medicine

AST Research Network/Astellas Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of C5aR Expression on Myeloid Cells in Allograft Tolerance

2016

Jason Wertheim, MD,PhD

| Northwestern University

AST Research Network/Astellas Basic Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Engineering Podocyte Microenvironments

2016

Jennifer Lai, MD, MBA

| University of California, San Francisco

AST Research Network/Novartis Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home-Based Structured Physical Fitness Program for Liver Transplant Candidates

2016

Jose Marino, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School

AST Research Network/Genentech Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Initiation of T Cell Allorecognition by Donor-Derived Exosomes after Transplantation

2016

Joanna Schaenman, MD, PhD

| University of California

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Translational Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Defining T Cell Dysfunction in the Older Kidney Transplant Recipient

2016

Thet Su Win, PhD, MB, Bchir, MRCS

| Brigham and Women's Hospital

AST Research Network/Genentech Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: The Role of Donor vs. Recipient T Cells in Rejection of Clinical Face Transplants

2016

Cozumel Pruette, MD, MHS

| Johns Hopkins University

AST Research Network/Astellas Clinical Science Faculty Development Research Grant

Research Title: Improving Adherence and Satisfaction in Adolescent Kidney Transplant Patients with Patient-Centered Communication

2015

Beth Amundsen, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network/One Lambda Basic Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of TGF-B in Interaction between T and B Regulatory Cells and its Potential Effects on Transplantation Tolerance

2015

Blayne Sayed, MD, PhD

| Emory University

AST Research Network/Bristol Myers Squibb Translational Science Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Epigenetic Regulation of CTLA-4 Modifies Susceptibility to the Development of Pathogenic T Cells Mediating a Belatacept Resistant Alloreactive Immune Response

2015

Career Transition Grants

Promotes the career of transplantation investigators transitioning to an R-series or equivalent grant

Johannes Wedel, MD, PhD

| Boston Children's Hospital

AST Research Network Basic Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Identification of Novel Semaphorin-inducible Immunoregulatory Cell Subsets

2024

Wei Tao, PhD

| Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

AST Research Network Translational Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: circRNA Nanoparticle-based Gel Relieving Acute Rejection for Improved Face/Skin Transplantation

2024

Anna Peters, MD PhD

| Children's Hospital Medical Center

AST Research Network Translational Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Defining T Cell Allospecificity in Pediatric Liver Rejection

2024

Sharad Wadhwani, MD, MPH

| University of California, San Francisco

AST Research Network Clinical Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Addressing Social Adversity to Improve Transition of Care for Adolescent Liver Transplant Recipients

2024

Scott Krummey, MD, PhD

| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

AST Research Network Clinical Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Mechanisms of Antigen-Specific CD8+ T Cell Differentiation and Function in Transplantation

2023

Idelberto Badell, MD

| Emory University

AST Research Network Basic Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: T follicular regulatory cell inhibition of primary and secondary follicular helper T cell-mediated humoral alloimmunity

2023

Khodor Abou-Daya, MD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network Basic Science Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Leveraging AI to Build a Discovery Platform for Transplantation Immunology

2023

Lisa VanWagner, MD, MSc

| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

AST Research Network Clinical Career Transition Research Grant

Research Title: Pilot Study to Assess Blockade of Calcium Channels and Sodium Chloride Cotransporters for Physiologic Abnormalities in Liver Transplant Associated Hypertension (BLOCK LTR-HTN)

2022

Priority-Focused Grants

Supports AST-specific priority areas in solid organ transplantation

Dan Jane-Wit, MD PhD

| Yale University

AST Research Network/CSL Behring Translational Science Priority-Focused Research Grant

Research Title: Novel Immunosuppression via Hedgehog Signal Inhibition

2024

Juliett Emamaullee, MD PhD

| University of Southern California

AST Research Network/Mallinckrodt Translational Science Priority-Focused Research Grant

Research Title: Immune exhaustion as a novel therapeutic target in liver transplant rejection

2024

Directed Grants

Provided targeted grants in special areas of interest in collaboration with AST partners

James Nawalaniec, MD

| Massachusetts General Hospital

AST Research Network/Natera Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Using mTORi-Specific Nanotherapy to Achieve Heart Allograft Tolerance in Nonhuman Primates

2023

Matthew Levine, MD, PhD

| Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania

AST Research Network/Ajmera Transplant Centre Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Tubastatin A Protection Of Human Livers During Ex Vivo Perfusion

2022

Daniel Calabrese, MD

| University of California, San Francisco

AST Research Network/Natera Directed Research Grant

Research Title: NKG2D Stress Molecules in Lung Allograft Dysfunction

2022

Amit Alam, MD

| Baylor Research Institute

AST Research Network/CareDx Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Impact of Virus Infection on Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA After Heart Transplantation

2022

Raja Dandamudi, MD

| Washington University in St.Louis

AST Research Network/CareDx Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Prospective Early Multi-Modality Longitudinal Surveillance in pediatric kidney transplant care : PREEMPT Study

2022

Timothy Gong, MD

| Baylor University Medical Center

AST Research Network/Natera Directed Research Grant

Research Title: The Variability of Donor-Derived Cell-Free DNA After Heart Transplantation

2021

Pooja Budhiraja, MD

| Mayo Clinic Arizona

AST Research Network/Natera Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Donor-derived Cell-free DNA Testing in Kidney Transplant Recipients on Reduced Immunosuppression

2021

Jennifer McDaniels, PhD

| University of Maryland, Baltimore

AST Research Network/Natera Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Defining the Progression to Chronic Renal Allograft Dysfunction Using a Combined Evaluation of Kidney-derived Plasma and Urine Extracellular Vesicles Harboring Unique cf-ddDNA and Small Non-coding RNA

2021

Mamatha Bhat, MD, PhD, FRCPC

| University Health Network

AST Research Network/CareDx Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Optimizing the Long-Term Health of Liver Transplant Recipients using Machine Learning Algorithms

2020

Vikas Dharnidharka, MD, MPH

| Washington University School of Medicine

AST Research Network/CareDx Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Pediatric Outcomes of KidneyCare in Renal Allografts (pOKRA)

2020

Julie Steinbrink, MD

| Duke University Medical Center

AST Research Network/CareDx Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Host Transcriptomic Responses to Non-Invasively Define the Inflammatory Response and Rejection Signals of Hepatitis-C Naive Recipients of Hepatitis-C Infected Donor Kidneys

2020

Megan Sykes, MD

| Columbia University

AST Research Network/Astellas Directed Research Grant

Research Title: A Specific Biomarker for the Host Anti-donor T Cell Response

2018

David Rothstein, MD

| University of Pittsburgh

AST Research Network/Astellas Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Transitional-1 (T1) B Cell Cytokine Ratio as an Prognostic Biomarker for Clinical Course in Renal Transplantation that Guides Therapeutic Intervention

2017

Sang Jin Lee, PhD

| Wake Forest University Health Sciences

AST Research Network/Human Organ Project Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Human ECM-derived Materials for Bioprinting of Implantable 3D Cardiac Tissue Construct

2016

Jason Wertheim, MD, PhD

| Northwestern University

AST Research Network/Human Organ Project Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Defining Functional Standards in Bioreactor-Based Organ Engineering

2016

Michael Mulvihill, MD

| Duke University

AST Research Network/Astellas Basic Fellowship Research Grant

Research Title: Role of Mitochondrial Injury in the Pathogenesis of Primary Graft Dysfunction following Cardiac Transplantation

2016

Sumit Mohan, MD, MPH

| Columbia University

AST Research Network/Laura and John Arnold Foundation Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Patient Oriented Transplant Center Metrics

2016

Jesse Schold, PhD, MStat, Med and Laura Buccini, DrPH, MPH

| Cleveland Clinic

AST Research Network/Laura and John Arnold Foundation Directed Research Grant

Research Title: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Center Performance to Improve Quality Oversight in Organ Transplantation

2016

Dorry Segev, MD, PhD

| Johns Hopkins

AST Research Network/Laura and John Arnold Foundation Directed Research Grant

Research Title: Design and Evaluation of Novel Metrics of Transplant Center Performance

2016

Allied Health and Nursing Grants

Promoted transplant research for allied health and nursing professionals

Jennifer Trofe-Clark, PharmD, BCPS, FCCP, FAST

| Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

AST Research Network/Wood MacMillan Charitable Fund Allied Health Research Grant

Research Title: Assessments of Literacy, Cognitive Function and Medication Knowledge in Renal Transplant Recipients in the Ambulatory Care Setting

2017

Tiffany Kaiser, PharmD, MSCR

| University of Cincinnati

AST Research Network/Wood MacMillan Charitable Fund Allied Health Research Grant

Research Title: Novel Medication Adherence Monitoring Strategies Utilizing Technology

2016

Dianne LaPointe Rudow, DNP

| Mount Sinai Medical School

AST Research Network/Wood MacMillan Charitable Fund Nursing Research Grant

Research Title: Evaluation of the Reliability and Validity of the Live Donor Assessment Tool (LDAT) to Predict Psychosocial Outcomes among Liver and Kidney Donors

2015

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This content was developed independently by AST and supported by a financial contribution from Sanofi