Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
Official title: Project 1-Cohort/Ethics Study of Patients withSevere Alcoholic Hepatitis undergoingEarly Liver Transplantation
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11413514 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $268,604 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA027054-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413514 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with severe alcoholic hepatitis who are refractory to medical management and have very high short-term mortality without transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without severe disease or who are not transplant candidates may not benefit from this strategy.
What this research studies
This project focuses on patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who do not respond to medical therapy and face very high short-term mortality. It examines the criteria and outcomes for offering liver transplantation before the usual 6-month sobriety requirement. The DELTA Center at Johns Hopkins has accumulated a large group of such patients and recipients to better understand survival, relapse, and long-term outcomes after early transplantation. The study is grounded in real-world clinical data from a dedicated program spanning many years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could expand access to life-saving transplants for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and refine criteria to balance survival with relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: Early liver transplant for SAH has shown promising survival and relapse rates in prior pilot experiences, forming the basis for broader application.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cameron, Andrew M. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cameron, Andrew M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting a specific CD38 form to protect livers from injury after transplant
A new approach tests a selective drug to protect donor livers from injury during transplant, potentially increasing usable organs and improving transplant outcomes.
-
Regulatory dendritic cell therapy to reduce immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplant
A new approach using donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells is being tested to help adults who receive a liver transplant live without relying on traditional immunosuppressive drugs.
-
HOPE liver transplant: reducing infections and cancer risk for HIV-positive recipients
This grant aims to better understand why HIV-positive liver transplant recipients face higher infection and cancer risks and to improve safety and outcomes for these patients.
-
Early liver transplant decisions for severe alcohol-related liver disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand how to best select and manage patients for early liver transplantation.
-
Early liver transplant for severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) to save lives
A Johns Hopkins program is testing whether giving an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who can’t be helped by standard treatments can save lives and reduce relapse risk.
-
ACCELERATE-PACE: Early Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand who can benefit from early liver transplantation and how best to manage care.
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.