Weiner Lab

Dr. Weiner's laboratory investigates the immunological basis of rejection and tolerance after solid organ transplantation. They have a particular interest in the contribution of the microbiome and the advantages of utilizing concurrent bone marrow infusion. The ultimate goal is to advance the field of transplantation by developing new strategies to overcome graft rejection and GvHD in solid organ transplantation by adapting different techniques for induction of mixed chimerism and immunological tolerance in clinical setting for both allotransplantation and xenotransplantation.

Projects

1. Investigating the association between rejection and changes in the gut microbiome after intestinal transplantation in a human cohort (PI, supported by NIH K23 Award)
2. Generating swine with fully chimeric skeletal muscle and investigating the immunologic basic for lack of rejection as a preclinical model for transplantation to humans with volumetric muscle loss after traumatic injury (Project 4 co-PI, supported by Department of Defense grant)
3. Clinical trial of combined kidney and bone marrow transplantation as a tolerance induction protocol (Site PI, supported by funding from industry partner)
4. Clinical trial of combined intestine and bone marrow transplantation as a tolerance induction protocol (co-investigator, supported by funding from industry partner)
5. Investigation of immunologic changes associated with rejection and GVHD after intestinal transplantation in a swine model (co-investigator, supported by NIH R01)