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Validation Study of Molecular Diagnostic SystemNCT01299168

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications in Microarrays in Organ Transplantation

An observational study of Validation Study of Molecular Diagnostic System and Development of Reporting System for Molecular Diagnosis, run by University of Alberta at 26 sites in 14 countries.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The current standard for biopsy-based diagnoses of dysfunction of kidney transplants is the Banff Classification which represents arbitrary international consensus. Recent data-driven approaches using molecular and conventional technologies indicate that mere consensus produces frequently incorrect diagnoses with… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
How many people
500 participants
Where
26 sitesin 14 countries
Study dates
May 2011to Jun 2028
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study population includes patients with a functioning kidney transplant undergoing a biopsy for clinicalindications as standard of care to determine the cause of their graft dysfunction (deterioration in graft function, delayed graft function, proteinuria).

Who may be able to join

  • All kidney transplant recipients ≥18yrs of age undergoing a kidney biopsy for clinical indications, as determined by their physician or surgeon, will be eligible to enrol in the study.

Who cannot join

  • Patients will be excluded from the study if they decline participation or are unable to give informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

26 sites in 14 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Philip F Halloran, MD PhD contact

1 780 492-6160

phallora@ualberta.ca

Konrad S Famulski, PhD DSc contact

1 780 4921725

konrad@ualberta.ca

26 sites in 14 countries

United States10 sites
  • University of Michigan Health System

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-5395

    Completed
  • University of Maryland School of Medicine

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21209

    Completed
  • University of Alabama

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35294-0006

    Completed
  • Pinnacle Transplant Associates

    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

    Completed
  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

    Madison, Wisconsin, WI 53705

    Completed
  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455

    Completed
  • Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

    Richmond, Virginia, 23298

    Completed
  • Texas Transplant Institute - Methodist Healthcare System

    San Antonio, Texas, 78229

    Completed
  • Barnes-Jewish Hospital

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110

    Completed
  • Montefiore Medical Center

    The Bronx, New York

    Completed

Other trials in United States

Canada2 sites, 1 recruiting
  • Department of Medicine, University of Alberta

    Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2S2

    Soroush Shojai, MD, shojai@ualberta.ca

    Soroush Shojai, MD

    Recruiting
  • University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital

    Vancouver, British Columbia

    Withdrawn

Other trials in Canada

France2 sites
  • Hopital Necker

    Paris

    Completed
  • Hopital St. Louis

    Paris

    Completed

Other trials in France

Germany2 sites
  • Charité - Universitätmedizin Berlin

    Berlin

    Completed
  • Medizinische Hochschule

    Hanover, 30625

    Completed

Other trials in Germany

Austria1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Medical University of Vienna

    Vienna

    Georg Boehmig, MD PhD, georg.boehmig@meduniwien.ac.at

    Farsad Eskandry, MD, farsad.eskandary@meduniwien.ac.at

    Recruiting

Other trials in Austria

Croatia1 site
  • University Hospital Merkur

    Zagreb

    Completed

Other trials in Croatia

Czechia1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Institute for Experimental and Clinical Medicine (IKEM)

    Prague

    Petra Hruba, Dr, hrup@ikem.cz

    Ondrej Viklicky, Dr

    Recruiting

Other trials in Czechia

Ireland1 site
  • Beaumont Hospital

    Dublin

    Withdrawn

Other trials in Ireland

Poland1 site
  • Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin

    Szczecin

    Completed

Other trials in Poland

Slovenia1 site
  • University of Ljubljana

    Ljubljana

    Completed

Other trials in Slovenia

South Korea1 site
  • Department of Surgery, University of Usan, College of Medicine

    Seoul, 05505

    Completed

Other trials in South Korea

Spain1 site
  • Vall d'Hebron Hospital

    Barcelona, 08035

    Completed

Other trials in Spain

Switzerland1 site
  • University Hospital Zurich

    Zurich, 8091

    Completed

Other trials in Switzerland

United Kingdom1 site
  • Manchester Royal Infirmary

    Manchester, M13 9WL

    Completed

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Multi-centric Observational Study to Analyse the Diagnostic Molecular Features in the Clinical Setting of Kidney Allograft Biopsies

The current standard for biopsy-based diagnoses of dysfunction of kidney transplants is the Banff Classification which represents arbitrary international consensus. Recent data-driven approaches using molecular and conventional technologies indicate that mere consensus produces frequently incorrect diagnoses with potential harm to patients due to inappropriate treatment. To address this unmet need and improve diagnostics in the area of organ transplantation, the Alberta Transplant Applied Genomics Centre (ATAGC) has developed a new diagnostic system that combines the molecular and histopathological features of transplant biopsies, plus clinical and laboratory parameters, to create the first Integrated Diagnostic System. The present study will validate and refine this system in 500 prospectively unselected biopsies for clinical indications from American, Canadian and European centres in addition to 300 biopsies already collected. Due to a considerable interest and support from participating Centers, the study is further extended to 1500 prospective biopsies. Thus this is the extension of the INTERCOM study (INTERCOMEX). In addition to demonstrating the feasibility and value of this System in routine patient care and clinical trials, the study will develop and optimize a transparent and user-friendly reporting format to communicate this information to clinicians and obtain detailed feedback on how this system can best improve patient care.

Read the detailed description

The study has enrolled so far 3012 biopsies from 2313 participants and the results are analyzed for these biopsies. Follow-up data is, and will be collected.

Keywords
global gene expression, molecular diagnostic classifiers

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT01299168
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Kidney Transplant Biopsies for CauseThe study population includes patients with a functioning kidney transplant undergoing a biopsy for clinical indications as standard of care to determine the cause of their graft dysfunction (deterioration in graft function, delayed graft function, proteinuria).

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Validate the Integrated Diagnostic System in the International Collaborative Microarray (INTERCOM) Study

    1. The rejection classifier predicts Banff diagnosis of any rejection: ABMR, TCMR, or mixed ABMR and TCMR;
    2. The TCMR classifier predicts the presence of Banff TCMR lesions/diagnoses;
    3. The ABMR classifier predicts the presence of ABMR lesions;
    4. In late (>1yr) biopsies for clinical indications, the failure classifier predicts failure within three years.

    Measured: 2013-2016

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Demonstrate the feasibility of molecular phenotyping of 300 + 500 kidney transplant biopsies for clinical indications.

    To test the hypothesis that the molecular phenotype of a newly acquired sample predicts the histologic and clinical features of this sample.

    Measured: 2014-2016

  2. Demonstrate the feasibility of molecular phenotyping of 500 biopsies in real time i.e. returning the molecular phenotyping report in two working days upon sample arrival.

    Refine the reports based on feedback from the participants.

    Measured: 2015-2016

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Feb 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startMay 2011
  3. Primary completionDec 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
500 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01299168
Sponsor's protocol ID
ATAGC-001
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
16 Feb 2011
Last updated
2 Jun 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Halloran PF, Famulski KS, Reeve J. Molecular assessment of disease states in kidney transplant biopsy samples. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2016 Sep;12(9):534-48. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2016.85. Epub 2016 Jun 27.

    PubMed 27345248
  • Halloran PF, Venner JM, Famulski KS. Comprehensive Analysis of Transcript Changes Associated With Allograft Rejection: Combining Universal and Selective Features. Am J Transplant. 2017 Jul;17(7):1754-1769. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14200. Epub 2017 Feb 25.

    PubMed 28101959
  • Halloran PF, Madill-Thomsen KS, Reeve J. The Molecular Phenotype of Kidney Transplants: Insights From the MMDx Project. Transplantation. 2024 Jan 1;108(1):45-71. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004624. Epub 2023 Dec 13.

    PubMed 37310258
  • Madill-Thomsen KS, Halloran PF. Precision diagnostics in transplanted organs using microarray-assessed gene expression: concepts and technical methods of the Molecular Microscope(R) Diagnostic System (MMDx). Clin Sci (Lond). 2024 Jun 5;138(11):663-685. doi: 10.1042/CS20220530.

    PubMed 38819301
  • Halloran PF, Chang J, Mackova M, Madill-Thomsen KS, Akalin E, Alhamad T, Anand S, Arnol M, Baliga R, Banasik M, Blosser CD, Bohmig G, Brennan D, Bromberg J, Budde K, Chamienia A, Chow K, Ciszek M, de Freitas D, Deborska-Materkowska D, Debska-Slizien A, Djamali A, Domanski L, Durlik M, Einecke G, Eskandary F, Fatica R, Francis I, Fryc J, Gill J, Gill J, Glyda M, Gourishankar S, Gryczman M, Gupta G, Hruba P, Hughes P, Jittirat A, Jurekovic Z, Kamal L, Kamel M, Kant S, Kojc N, Konopa J, Lan J, Mannon RB, Matas A, Mazurkiewicz J, Miglinas M, Mueller T, Myslak M, Narins S, Naumnik B, Patel A, Perkowska-Ptasinska A, Picton M, Piecha G, Poggio E, Rajnochova Bloudickova S, Schachtner T, Shojai S, Sikosana ML, Slatinska J, Smykal-Jankowiak K, Solanki A, Veceric Haler Z, Viklicky O, Vucur K, Weir MR, Wiecek A, Wlodarczyk Z, Yang H, Zaky Z, Gauthier PT, Hinze C. A cross-sectional study of the role of epithelial cell injury in kidney transplant outcomes. JCI Insight. 2025 Apr 15;10(10):e188658. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.188658. eCollection 2025 May 22.

    PubMed 40232852
  • Diebold M, Gauthier PT, Mayer KA, Mackova M, Hinze C, Chang J, Patel UD, Schutz E, Jilma B, Schrezenmeier E, Budde K, Bohmig GA, Halloran PF. Effect of felzartamab on the molecular phenotype of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant biopsies. Nat Med. 2025 May;31(5):1668-1676. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-03653-3. Epub 2025 Apr 29.

    PubMed 40301559
  • Callemeyn J, Nava-Sedeno JM, Anglicheau D, Beadle J, Brasen JH, Clahsen-van Groningen MC, Cristoferi I, de Loor H, Deutsch A, Essig M, Gwinner W, Halloran PF, Hesselink DA, Koshy P, Kuypers D, Lerut E, Marquet P, Minnee RC, Roufosse C, Sprangers B, Van Craenenbroeck AH, Hatzikirou H, Naesens M. Identification and Cross-Platform Validation of Sparse Molecular Classifiers for Antibody-Mediated and T-Cell-Mediated Rejection After Kidney Transplantation. Kidney Int Rep. 2025 Apr 1;10(6):1806-1818. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2025.03.048. eCollection 2025 Jun.

    PubMed 40630324
  • Halloran PF, Pereira AB, Chang J, Matas A, Picton M, De Freitas D, Bromberg J, Seron D, Sellares J, Einecke G, Reeve J. Potential impact of microarray diagnosis of T cell-mediated rejection in kidney transplants: The INTERCOM study. Am J Transplant. 2013 Sep;13(9):2352-63. doi: 10.1111/ajt.12387. Epub 2013 Aug 5.

    PubMed 23915426
  • Halloran PF, Pereira AB, Chang J, Matas A, Picton M, De Freitas D, Bromberg J, Seron D, Sellares J, Einecke G, Reeve J. Microarray diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant biopsies: an international prospective study (INTERCOM). Am J Transplant. 2013 Nov;13(11):2865-74. doi: 10.1111/ajt.12465. Epub 2013 Oct 3.

    PubMed 24119109
  • Loupy A, Lefaucheur C, Vernerey D, Chang J, Hidalgo LG, Beuscart T, Verine J, Aubert O, Dubleumortier S, Duong van Huyen JP, Jouven X, Glotz D, Legendre C, Halloran PF. Molecular microscope strategy to improve risk stratification in early antibody-mediated kidney allograft rejection. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2014 Oct;25(10):2267-77. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2013111149. Epub 2014 Apr 3.

    PubMed 24700874
  • Halloran PF, Chang J, Famulski K, Hidalgo LG, Salazar ID, Merino Lopez M, Matas A, Picton M, de Freitas D, Bromberg J, Seron D, Sellares J, Einecke G, Reeve J. Disappearance of T Cell-Mediated Rejection Despite Continued Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Late Kidney Transplant Recipients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Jul;26(7):1711-20. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2014060588. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

    PubMed 25377077
  • Halloran PF, Merino Lopez M, Barreto Pereira A. Identifying Subphenotypes of Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplants. Am J Transplant. 2016 Mar;16(3):908-20. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13551. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

    PubMed 26743766
  • Reeve J, Chang J, Salazar ID, Lopez MM, Halloran PF. Using Molecular Phenotyping to Guide Improvements in the Histologic Diagnosis of T Cell-Mediated Rejection. Am J Transplant. 2016 Apr;16(4):1183-92. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13572. Epub 2016 Jan 5.

    PubMed 26730747
  • Eskandary F, Bond G, Kozakowski N, Regele H, Marinova L, Wahrmann M, Kikic Z, Haslacher H, Rasoul-Rockenschaub S, Kaltenecker CC, Konig F, Hidalgo LG, Oberbauer R, Halloran PF, Bohmig GA. Diagnostic Contribution of Donor-Specific Antibody Characteristics to Uncover Late Silent Antibody-Mediated Rejection-Results of a Cross-Sectional Screening Study. Transplantation. 2017 Mar;101(3):631-641. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000001195.

    PubMed 27120452
  • Aubert O, Loupy A, Hidalgo L, Duong van Huyen JP, Higgins S, Viglietti D, Jouven X, Glotz D, Legendre C, Lefaucheur C, Halloran PF. Antibody-Mediated Rejection Due to Preexisting versus De Novo Donor-Specific Antibodies in Kidney Allograft Recipients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017 Jun;28(6):1912-1923. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2016070797. Epub 2017 Mar 2.

    PubMed 28255002

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Validation Study of Molecular Diagnostic System and Development of Reporting System for Molecular Diagnosis, run by University of Alberta at 26 sites in 14 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 26 sites in United States, Canada, France, Germany, Austria and 9 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Philip F Halloran, MD PhD (1 780 492-6160, phallora@ualberta.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Validate the Integrated Diagnostic System in the International Collaborative Microarray (INTERCOM) Study (time frame: 2013-2016). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01299168, which also lists 34 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jun 2026.

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