Cholesterol Pathways in Acinar Cells and Alcoholic Pancreatitis
Official title: Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11397380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how cholesterol handling in pancreatic acinar cells affects alcoholic pancreatitis and whether fixing this pathway could lessen disease severity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 31, 1998 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $136,081 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA011999-28 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients with alcoholic pancreatitis or those at risk due to chronic alcohol use and pancreatic inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without alcoholic pancreatitis or related pancreatic disease may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project investigates how disruptions in cholesterol transport within acinar cells contribute to alcoholic pancreatitis, focusing on the NPC1 protein and related lysosomal pathways. Using mouse and cell models, researchers will explore how cholesterol overload in acinar cells drives enzyme activation, cell death, and inflammation. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to reduce disease severity and improve outcomes for patients with alcoholic pancreatitis. Results could pave the way for new therapies that modulate cellular cholesterol homeostasis and organellar function in the pancreas.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that lessen severity and complications of alcoholic pancreatitis by correcting cholesterol-related cellular dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and related pancreatitis research suggest that correcting cholesterol handling in acinar cells can influence disease processes, supporting further study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gukovskaya, Anna S. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Gukovskaya, Anna S.
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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.