Lung and bone marrow transplants together for advanced lung disease

Plain-English translation of NCT03500731 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated January 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.

What is this trial?

This is an early-stage trial testing a new approach: giving patients a lung transplant followed by a bone marrow transplant, both from the same donor. It's designed for people with severe, end-stage lung disease (like pulmonary fibrosis or emphysema) who also have bone marrow failure — a condition where the bone marrow cannot produce enough blood cells. The researchers believe that doing both transplants together might help restore lung function and fix the blood-cell production problems at the same time.

Many people with advanced lung disease also develop bone marrow failure, which makes it very hard to tolerate the strong medicines needed after a lung transplant alone. This trial exists to see whether combining both transplants from a single donor could be a safer and more effective option for these patients who would otherwise not be good candidates for standard treatment.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 60 years old
you have been diagnosed with end-stage lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, or COPD
you have bone marrow failure with abnormally low counts in at least one type of blood cell (low white blood cells, platelets, or red blood cells)
you meet medical criteria for lung transplant listing and have normal or near-normal heart, liver, and kidney function
you are able to understand the study and provide informed consent

You likely don't qualify if…

you have or have had cancer
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to use birth control for up to 2 years after the transplant
you are HIV or HTLV positive
you have an active, uncontrolled infection in your lungs or elsewhere in your body
you are allergic to DMSO or other ingredients used in making the transplant cells

What participation looks like

If you join this trial, you will first undergo a lung transplant using standard surgical techniques and recovery care. At least 8 weeks later, once your new lungs are working well, you will receive a bone marrow transplant from the same donor. The bone marrow cells will be specially processed to reduce the risk of rejection before being given to you. You will need close monitoring and follow-up visits to check how well both transplants are working, manage medicines to prevent rejection, and watch for any side effects. The study aims to enroll about 8 patients total.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 8, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

United States

UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania