A new system to study liver disease and improve clinical trials for patients with fatty liver disease
Official title: A vascularized patient-derived iPSC liver acinus microphysiology system as an innovative precision medicine platform for optimizing clinical trial design for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10868453 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special model of the liver using cells from patients to help us learn more about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and improve new treatments, so that people with this condition can have better options for care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $777,501 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3TR003289-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10868453 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or its progressive form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver diseases unrelated to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research develops a unique platform using patient-derived cells to create a model of the liver that mimics its natural environment. By utilizing this vascularized liver acinus microphysiology system, researchers aim to better understand nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and optimize the design of clinical trials for new treatments. The approach focuses on addressing the complexities of NAFLD, which affects a significant portion of the population and currently lacks effective therapies. Patients may benefit from more targeted and effective treatment options as a result of this innovative research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective therapies for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various approaches to studying liver diseases, this specific method using patient-derived cells in a microphysiology system is innovative and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, D. Lansing — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Taylor, D. Lansing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting fatty liver disease in women around pregnancy to improve health
This grant explores how to identify and help pregnant and postpartum women who are at risk for fatty liver disease to prevent liver problems later.
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Clinically meaningful research on fatty liver disease in adults and children
A nationwide effort studying MASLD, the major form of fatty liver disease, to find better ways to identify who is at risk and how to treat it, including kids and adults.
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NAFLD in PCOS: Do androgens drive liver injury and fatty liver progression?
Young women with PCOS may face liver disease progression due to high androgen levels, and this research looks at targeted ways to slow or prevent that progression.
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Ultrasound tests to find and track fatty liver in children
This project develops easy-to-use ultrasound methods to find and monitor liver fat in children who are overweight or obese.
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How genes and heavy metals influence fatty liver disease
This project looks at how a person’s genes and the amounts of metals in their liver together relate to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Gm4951 gene and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Researchers are looking at whether changes in the Gm4951 gene affect how much fat builds up in the liver for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.