ACCELERATE-PACE: Early Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
Official title: 4/4-American Consortium of Early Liver Transplantation-Prospective Alcohol-associated liver disease Cohort Evaluation (ACCELERATE-PACE)
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11408437 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand who can benefit from early liver transplantation and how best to manage care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $403,739 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030965-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408437 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with severe alcohol-associated liver disease being evaluated for early liver transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
People not being evaluated for liver transplantation or without alcohol-associated liver disease may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project tracks patients with severe alcohol-associated liver disease who are evaluated for early liver transplantation across multiple sites. It aims to identify best practices for selecting candidates and managing care before and after transplantation, including how abstinence and treatments for alcohol use disorder affect outcomes. The study uses existing ACCELERATE resources and adds new recruitment sites to capture diverse patient experiences and care pathways. By analyzing how different strategies influence transplant access and success, the research hopes to improve organ use and patient survival.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to clearer criteria for early transplantation and improved treatment plans, potentially increasing transplant success and survival for people with alcohol-related liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have shown variability in early transplant practices; this study builds on that by evaluating real-world selection and management strategies across multiple centers.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ghobrial, Rafik Mark — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Ghobrial, Rafik Mark
Related research
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HOPE liver transplant: reducing infections and cancer risk for HIV-positive recipients
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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.
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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.