Environmental exposures and molecular markers in childhood fatty liver (LEON)
Longitudinal integration of environmental exposures, omics, and childhood NAFLD (LEON) Study
['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11099894
This project follows children over time to find how pollution, chemicals, and biological markers relate to fatty liver disease in kids.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11099894 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be followed over several years with regular clinic visits where doctors collect health information, imaging, and biosamples like blood, urine, and stool. Researchers will measure many layers of biology—genes, epigenetics, proteins, metabolites, and the gut microbiome—and combine those data with detailed measures of environmental exposures such as air pollution and chemical pollutants. The goal is to find early molecular signs of liver injury and modifiable exposures that increase risk or speed disease progression in children, especially in communities hit hardest like Latino youth. Some lab and animal work will help interpret results, but the main focus is on collecting and analyzing samples from children and adolescents.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and adolescents at risk for or already showing signs of NAFLD—particularly Latino youth—who can provide medical information and biological samples and attend follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People without liver disease, adults outside the pediatric focus, or those unable to provide samples or attend visits are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early warning signs and environmental causes of pediatric NAFLD that lead to better prevention and earlier care.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some small human studies have linked pollutants to fatty liver, but large longitudinal omics studies in children are limited, so this human-focused approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CHATZI, VAIA LIDA — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: CHATZI, VAIA LIDA
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 below.