A kidney transplant can be life-changing, but it usually comes with a lifelong tradeoff: daily immunosuppressant pills that keep the immune system from attacking the donated organ.

A new study suggests there may be another path in the future, one that could reduce the daily medication burden to a monthly treatment. Researchers say the goal is not just convenience. The approach could also limit side effects and help donor kidneys keep working longer.

Right now, most kidney transplant recipients take several drugs every day to prevent rejection. While these standard immunosuppressants protect the new kidney, they can gradually harm kidney function and may lose effectiveness over time.