Comparing medicines and weight-loss surgery for liver disease linked to metabolic problems
Official title: Comparative effectiveness of pharmacotherapies and bariatric surgery for metabolic dysfunction associated steateohepatitis
Funded at Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res · NIH-11448529 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program looks at how two drugs and bariatric surgery work for adults with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $272,400 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145692-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448529 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with MASH and stage 2-3 fibrosis who might be candidates for GLP-1/GIP therapies or bariatric surgery.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not have MASH or have no fibrosis progression risk, the study findings may be less relevant to you.
What this research studies
If you have MASH, this project plans to use high-quality observational data from national health records to compare how semaglutide, tirzepatide, and bariatric surgery affect liver-related outcomes. The team will emulate randomized trial design in real-world data to estimate which approach most reduces serious liver events. The goal is to provide clear evidence on treatments that could lower risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer for patients like you.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide doctors on which treatment approach best lowers serious liver outcomes for adults with MASH.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials showed fibrosis reduction with some drugs, but high-quality evidence on major liver outcomes is still needed, making this study novel in its real-world approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ioannou, George — Seattle Inst for Biomedical/clinical Res
- Study coordinator: Ioannou, George
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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.