Genetic and environmental risk for fatty liver cancer in Latinos (GENIAL)
Official title: Genetic and Environmental risk of NAFLD-related HCC In All Latinos: the GENIAL Study
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11421825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand why Latino people with fatty liver disease might be more likely to develop liver cancer and to use genetic and environmental clues to predict who is at higher risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $164,823 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA288421-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421825 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Latino adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who participate in the All of Us Research Program or UCLA ATLAS data cohorts or similar Latino-focused datasets.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without NAFLD or from populations not represented in the studied datasets may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine existing data from large Latino-focused programs to look for genetic and environmental factors linked to fatty liver disease and liver cancer. They will perform genome-wide analyses and create risk scores to identify high-risk individuals among Latinos with NAFLD. The goal is to tailor risk predictions and improve personalized care for this community.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection and individualized monitoring for Latino patients at higher risk of liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous GWAS and polygenic risk score approaches have identified genetic factors, but this project aims to expand understanding in Latinos with NAFLD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Patricia Denise — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Jones, Patricia Denise
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
A study exploring how membrane lipids influence acetyl-CoA metabolism to understand and potentially treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
We’re following people over time to see how the gut microbiome and diet relate to fatty liver disease progression in diverse racial/ethnic groups.
-
Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
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Role of cholesterol metabolism in toxin-driven liver disease
This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
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Small blood particle signals and fatty liver in children and teens
Researchers are looking at whether molecules carried in tiny blood particles can explain or signal fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with excess weight.
-
Hepatic insulin resistance linking type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease
This project looks at how insulin resistance in the liver connects type 2 diabetes with fatty liver disease and its progression to a harmful liver condition in a mouse model and human data.
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.