Frailty and outcomes after liver transplant in acutely ill patients
Official title: Investigating the role of frailty on outcomes in acutely ill patients with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation in the acute care setting
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11379527 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how frailty affects recovery and survival for people with cirrhosis who undergo liver transplantation during an acute hospital stay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $702,231 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133527-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379527 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation in the acute care setting, where pre-morbid frailty information may be limited.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing transplantation or those without acute-care admission surrounding the transplant are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
For people with cirrhosis, getting a liver transplant can fix liver function but frailty and weakness can still affect recovery after surgery. The researchers will use the Liver Frailty Index, based on grip strength, chair stands, and balance, to measure frailty in patients seen in acute care before or around transplantation. They will examine how acute-care frailty relates to hospitalizations, complications, and mortality after transplant. The study aims to inform clinicians on risk and care planning when patients are acutely ill and undergoing transplantation. Findings could help tailor perioperative support to improve outcomes for this vulnerable group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better risk stratification and targeted care plans could improve recovery and survival for acutely ill cirrhosis patients receiving transplantation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that ambulatory frailty measures predict post-transplant outcomes; this study extends the approach to the acute-care setting.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lai, Jennifer C. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lai, Jennifer C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating frailty and aging in childhood cancer survivors
This study is looking at childhood cancer survivors to see how they might face health challenges similar to older adults as they grow up, and it aims to find ways to help them stay strong and healthy by exploring treatments that could improve their well-being.
-
Statin therapy for people with compensated cirrhosis
A big, long-term study at a major university is looking at whether statins can help people with compensated cirrhosis live longer and feel better.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Centers for Clinical Research
A multicenter study in people with cirrhosis from different causes (including HIV, NASH, and alcohol-related liver disease) to collect data and samples and test new ways to predict and monitor disease progression.
-
Outcomes in cirrhosis from different causes and the role of HIV and simvastatin
This study looks at how cirrhosis from alcohol, HIV, and other causes affects patients and whether simvastatin can influence outcomes.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Mayo Clinic's Clinical Research Center
A Mayo Clinic-led project will follow and help people with compensated cirrhosis, using data, imaging, and a big AI tool to predict when complications may happen and test whether a statin can improve outcomes.
-
Understanding how risk factors affect progression of cirrhosis and response to statins in patients with cirrhosis
This project follows people with cirrhosis to see what factors speed up their liver disease and whether statin medicines help prevent worsening.
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.