Fat-linked amino acids and fatty liver with heart disease risk
Official title: Lipidated Amino Acids in Cardiometabolic Diseases
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11324547 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether changes in fat-linked amino acids made in the liver are tied to fatty liver disease and a higher risk of clogged arteries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $429,581 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134011-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324547 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with NAFLD or NASH, especially those who also have signs of atherosclerosis or cardiovascular risk, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without fatty liver disease or whose artery disease is unrelated to these metabolic pathways may not gain direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will compare liver tissue and blood samples from people with and without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH) to measure levels of N-acyl amino acids and related gene activity. They will use metabolomics and transcriptomics to find which enzymes and pathways that make or break these molecules are altered in disease. Lab models (including mice) will be used to test how changing these fat-linked amino acids affects liver inflammation and artery plaque formation. The goal is to find pathways that could be targeted to help both fatty liver and accelerated atherosclerosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or blood markers to treat or predict both fatty liver disease and related heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior studies have linked N-acyl amino acids to metabolism, but applying this knowledge to jointly target NASH and atherosclerosis is largely new.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rom, Oren — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Rom, Oren
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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.