NIH-funded research R21 grant

Creating a mouse model to study liver disease caused by alcohol

Official title: Multicellular Organotypic Mouse Model of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10853113 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is creating a new mouse model to better understand alcoholic liver disease, helping researchers learn how alcohol impacts liver cells, which could lead to better treatments for people affected by this condition.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project startJune 1, 2023
Project endMay 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$189,094
NIH project number5R21AA030397-02
Project IDNIH-10853113 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a history of alcohol consumption who are experiencing liver-related health issues.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not consume alcohol or have liver diseases unrelated to alcohol may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a new mouse model that accurately mimics alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is a significant health issue related to alcohol consumption. The researchers aim to understand the mechanisms of ALD by using advanced techniques to create three-dimensional liver microtissues that maintain the functionality of liver cells. This model will allow for better investigation of how alcohol affects different types of liver cells and their interactions, which is crucial for understanding the disease's progression. By improving the model, the research seeks to provide insights that could lead to more effective treatments for ALD.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for patients suffering from alcoholic liver disease.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using advanced models to study liver diseases, indicating that this approach has the potential to yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Khetani, Salman R — University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Khetani, Salman R

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Microbiome and Innate Immune Response in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

    Researchers are studying how gut bacteria and the body's first-line immune defenses contribute to liver damage from alcohol, with a focus on how a specific bacteria and its toxins affect disease severity.

    NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11543368

  • Lipotoxicity and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

    This project studies how fatty acids cause liver cell damage in alcohol-related liver disease to help develop new treatments.

    NIH research University of North Carolina Greensboro · Greensboro, United States · NIH-11450399

  • NNMT as a Target to Treat Alcoholic Liver Disease

    A study to see if blocking an enzyme called NNMT can help people with alcoholic liver disease.

    NIH research University of Illinois at Chicago · Chicago, UNITED STATES · NIH-11380807

  • How gut fungi may drive alcohol-related liver damage

    Researchers are looking at whether specific fungi in the gut make liver damage from heavy drinking worse in people with alcohol-related liver disease.

    NIH research University of California, San Diego · La Jolla, United States · NIH-11378956

  • Heat shock protein 90 and alcohol-related liver disease: how macrophages fuel inflammation

    This project looks at how a cellular stress protein, HSP90, affects liver inflammation in people with alcohol-related liver disease by focusing on macrophages.

    NIH research Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · Worcester, United States · NIH-11374847

  • Why alcohol-related liver disease can come back after a transplant

    Looking at whether an enzyme called CerS6 helps fat build up in the liver and whether measuring CerS6 can help detect or predict return of alcohol-related liver disease before or after a liver transplant.

    NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11329541

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.