NIH-funded research P01 program project

Control of NASH to HCC progression through NRF2 and FBP1 interactions

Official title: Project 1: Control of NASH to HCC progression by the NRF2-FBP1 tug-of-war

Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11418962 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A research team is studying how NRF2 and FBP1 interact to influence the progression from fatty liver disease (NASH) to liver cancer (HCC) in people who have NASH.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project startSeptember 9, 2024
Project endAugust 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$518,748
NIH project number5P01CA281819-03
Project IDNIH-11418962 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with NASH or at risk of progression to HCC who could participate in biomarker studies or future clinical trials.

Less likely to help

Patients without NASH or those not eligible for subsequent translational studies may not benefit.

What this research studies

This project investigates how NRF2 and FBP1 regulate changes in liver cells during the transition from NASH to HCC. It explores how autophagy disruption and cellular stress signals contribute to cancer development, using models that mirror human disease. The goal is to uncover regulatory tricks that could be targeted to prevent or slow cancer arising from NASH.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or delay liver cancer in people with NASH.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows NRF2 and metabolic pathways influence liver cancer, suggesting this line of investigation could yield actionable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
    La Jolla, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
  • Study coordinator: Karin, Michael

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.