Better liver imaging for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Comprehensive noninvasive assessment of liver histopathology in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) via magnetic resonance imaging, cytometry and elastography (MR-ICE)
['FUNDING_R01'] · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · NIH-11135407
This research is creating new MRI techniques to check for liver inflammation and damage in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without needing a biopsy.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11135407 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Many people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) need liver biopsies to tell if they have a more serious condition called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which involves inflammation and cell injury. Biopsies are invasive, so we are working to develop safe and reliable MRI methods that can do the same job. Our goal is to create a new imaging protocol, called MR-ICE, that can accurately show the full picture of liver disease progression, including inflammation and cell damage. This will help doctors understand your liver health better and track how treatments are working over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future studies related to this research would be adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Not a fit: Patients without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or those under 21 years old would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a non-invasive way to diagnose and monitor liver inflammation and damage in NAFLD, potentially replacing painful liver biopsies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a biomarker for inflammation, and this work aims to build upon and validate those findings while adding new capabilities.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: YIN, MENG — MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: YIN, MENG
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 below.