Natera, UCSF Sarwal Lab Partner to Study DNA Biomarkers of Kidney Transplant Rejection

Natera, a genetic testing and diagnostics company with proprietary bioinformatics and molecular technology, has announced that it has formed a collaboration with the Sarwal Lab at University of California San Francisco to study DNA markers of kidney transplant rejection.The Sarwal Lab has been focused on using precision medicine techniques to better diagnose and predict acute rejection (AR) in kidney transplants, a finding that eventually could replace the need for biopsies and lead to earlier detection of AR and treatment. Principal investigators in the lab include Lab Director Minnie Sarwal, MD, PhD and Tara Sigdel PhD. The announcement of this colaboration  was reported at website "GenomeWeb". 

Under the terms of the arrangement, Natera will use its proprietary massively multiplexed PCR platform and algorithms to analyze the level of donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) in hundreds of retrospectively banked plasma samples collected at UCSF from kidney transplant recipients both with and without organ injury. The partners aim to establish whether dd-cfDNA can be used to predict organ injury in kidney transplantation and improve clinical outcomes.

Additional terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

"It is still very difficult to detect quickly whether an individual patient is recovering well or rejecting the organ," UCSF's Minnie Sarwal, who is working with Natera on the project, said in a statement. "Because the speed of that detection is crucial in preventing acute rejection, our goal is to develop a test that will help us identify which patients are at greatest risk before the damage is irreversible."