Dynamic risk models to improve NAFLD care for VA patients
Official title: Augmenting the VA NAFLD Dashboard with Dynamic Random Forest Models
Funded at Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center · NIH-11242916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A VA project will add smart, evolving prediction tools to identify VA patients at risk of NAFLD progression and help clinicians tailor care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2026 |
| Project end | October 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 1I01RD000507-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
VA patients with NAFLD who are or could be involved in hepatology care and whose data are available within VA health systems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without NAFLD or outside the VA system may not benefit from these tools.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior models to predict liver disease progression in veterans with NAFLD by integrating dynamic random forest methods into hepatology dashboards. The approach uses existing VA patient data to enhance risk stratification for fibrosis, NASH, and cirrhosis, guiding referrals and treatment decisions. Clinicians will see updated risk scores in a dashboard that adapts as new data come in, with the goal of reducing unnecessary referrals and ensuring high-risk patients receive timely care. The work focuses on real-world VA populations and aims to improve outcomes through better, data-driven decision making.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, veterans with NAFLD could receive more precise care, reducing progression to advanced liver disease and lowering related healthcare costs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous models predicting liver-related outcomes have shown promise; this project extends those methods to dynamic dashboards and a broader metabolic syndrome context.
Where this research is happening
-
Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frey, Lewis James — Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Frey, Lewis James
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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.