Growth Hormone and DNA Repair in Children's MASLD outcomes
Official title: Role of Growth Hormone in the regulation of hepatic DNA integrity and pediatric MASLD outcomes
Funded at Albert Einstein College of Medicine · NIH-11440016 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how growth hormone and the ATM DNA repair pathway affect liver health in children with MASLD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $126,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DK149105-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11440016 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and young adults with MASLD or related liver conditions who are focal to ATM pathway research.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without MASLD or ATM-related questions are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on kids and teens who have MASLD, aiming to understand how DNA integrity in liver cells influences disease progression. Researchers will examine how the ATM signaling pathway, which helps cells repair DNA, might be linked to worsened liver outcomes in prepubertal children. By studying liver tissue and relevant blood markers, the study hopes to identify mechanisms that could later lead to targeted therapies. The approach emphasizes translating basic biology into clues that could improve treatment and prognosis for pediatric MASLD. Participation could involve data review and possibly non-invasive tests rather than invasive procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide future therapies that protect liver DNA and reduce MASLD progression in children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show ATM pathway involvement in liver disease, but pediatric-specific mechanisms remain uncertain and this project seeks to clarify them.
Where this research is happening
-
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viswanathan, Preeti — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Viswanathan, Preeti
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Them1’s role in fat metabolism and MASLD progression
Aims to understand how a fat-regulating protein (Them1) affects energy use in fat and liver, and how this could contribute to MASLD in people who are overweight.
-
Understanding MASLD progression to MASH and liver cancer in Alaska Native communities
A patient-facing overview of a study that looks at why a common liver disease progresses to more serious conditions in Alaska Native and American Indian people.
-
Pediatric MASLD: a blood test to detect liver disease progression in kids
A child-friendly blood test is being developed to spot liver disease progression in kids with MASLD without needing biopsies.
-
Isocaloric navy bean substitution for MASLD with fibrosis
A small, patient-friendly trial tests whether swapping in navy beans for some daily calories can help adults with MASLD and liver fibrosis without changing total calories.
-
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Affects people with MASLD/MASH may benefit from a better understanding of how certain immune cells contribute to liver fibrosis and how to stop it.
-
Multi-ancestry genetic study of MASLD with follow-up tests
A large genetics study will look for liver disease risk genes across diverse populations and follow up with functional tests to understand how these genes affect MASLD.
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.