ACCELERATE-PACE: Early Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
Official title: 3/4-American Consortium of Early Liver Transplantation-Prospective Alcohol-associated liver disease Cohort Evaluation (ACCELERATE-PACE)
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11393832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-site, long-term study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand who benefits most from early liver transplantation and how best to manage care across the transplant process.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,655 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030966-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with severe alcohol-related liver disease being evaluated for early liver transplantation across participating sites.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for liver transplantation or who do not undergo ELT may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project enrolls adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease across multiple U.S. sites to prospectively track outcomes as they are evaluated for early liver transplantation. It aims to refine selection criteria and management strategies for patients considered for transplantation before the traditional sobriety period, while examining treatments for alcohol use disorders and how they affect transplant outcomes. By linking several large cohorts, the study will develop better risk scores and decision tools to improve organ utilization and fairness in access to life-saving care. The work will provide insights into whether early transplantation can improve survival and quality of life for people with ALD and how abstinence duration interacts with outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve equity and outcomes for patients with alcohol-related liver disease by guiding who should receive early transplantation and how to manage care to maximize organ utility.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown variability in ELT practices; this multi-site cohort aims to clarify which approaches work best, building on existing evidence but addressing gaps in selection and management.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lucey, Michael Ronan — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Lucey, Michael Ronan
Related research
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-
Regulatory dendritic cell therapy to reduce immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplant
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-
HOPE liver transplant: reducing infections and cancer risk for HIV-positive recipients
This grant aims to better understand why HIV-positive liver transplant recipients face higher infection and cancer risks and to improve safety and outcomes for these patients.
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Early liver transplant decisions for severe alcohol-related liver disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand how to best select and manage patients for early liver transplantation.
-
Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
A hospital-based program is studying whether offering an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis can save lives when standard medical treatment fails.
-
Early liver transplant for severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) to save lives
A Johns Hopkins program is testing whether giving an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who can’t be helped by standard treatments can save lives and reduce relapse risk.
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.