Could a stem cell infusion free kidney transplant patients from lifelong drugs?

NCT ID NCT03943238

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Stanford University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether a special treatment before a kidney transplant can help the body accept the new organ without needing lifelong anti-rejection drugs. Participants receive radiation and immune-suppressing drugs, followed by an infusion of donor stem cells and the patient's own regulatory immune cells (Tregs). The goal is to see if this allows patients to safely stop taking anti-rejection medication after 18 months. The trial involves adults aged 18 to 65 receiving a kidney from a living donor.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: donor hematopoietic stem cells and recipient regulatory T cells (Tregs)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could allow kidney transplant recipients to stop taking lifelong anti-rejection drugs, reducing side effects and improving quality of life.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with a small number of participants. The regimen involves radiation and immune-suppressing drugs, which carry risks of infection and other complications. It may not work for everyone.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

end stage renal failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LIVING DONOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Nothwestern University
RECRUITING

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
Stanford University
RECRUITING

Palo Alto, California, 94305, United States

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