Early liver transplant evaluation for people with severe alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: 1/4-American Consortium of Early Liver Transplantation-Prospective Alcohol-associated liver disease Cohort Evaluation (ACCELERATE-PACE)
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11146343 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to learn which patients benefit most from getting a liver transplant sooner than the usual six-month sobriety period.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $577,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030960-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11146343 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) with severe alcohol-associated liver disease who are being considered for early liver transplantation (before six months of abstinence) and evaluated at a participating center are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol-associated liver disease, those with mild liver disease not facing transplant decisions, or patients unable to attend participating centers are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would be followed over time at participating transplant centers in a national consortium to collect medical, drinking-history, treatment, and outcome information. The study links multiple research sites across the South/Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West to compare how different centers select and care for patients considered for early liver transplant. Researchers will track whether people recover their liver function with abstinence or need a transplant, and how addiction treatments and other care affect outcomes. The goal is to develop clearer selection rules and risk scores to guide fairer and more effective use of donated livers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help more people get timely transplants when needed, reduce disparities in access, and improve predictions about who will recover without a transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Prior single-center and smaller multicenter reports have shown promising outcomes with early liver transplant, but prospective, large multicenter cohort data are still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Terrault, Norah a. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Terrault, Norah a.
Related research
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Early liver transplant decisions for severe alcohol-related liver disease
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Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
A hospital-based program is studying whether offering an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis can save lives when standard medical treatment fails.
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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.