Harnessing liver cell flexibility to treat cholestatic liver diseases
Official title: Unlocking the potential of human hepatocyte plasticity for therapy of cholestatic liver diseases
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11342554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to turn liver cells into the right type to help people with cholestatic liver diseases, including Alagille syndrome.
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 | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $626,188 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK147101-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11342554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alagille syndrome or other cholestatic liver diseases could benefit from future therapies derived from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Early-stage basic research may not translate into immediate therapies for all patients.
What this research studies
This project explores how liver cells can change to form proper bile ducts in situations like Alagille syndrome, using insights from mouse models. Researchers will map how these cellular changes happen in the liver and test what is needed to guide them toward effective therapy. The work combines advanced single-cell analysis and experimental approaches to understand maturation pathways and inflammation interactions. The goal is to identify strategies that could restore bile ducts and improve liver function in patients with cholestatic diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to repair or replace damaged bile ducts and improve liver health for patients with ALGS and related conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in mouse models showed hepatocytes can form biliary-like structures, supporting potential for translating this approach to human disease.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Willenbring, Holger — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Willenbring, Holger
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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.