How a liver protein (HDAC1) senses nutrients and affects fatty liver disease
Official title: HDAC1 as a nutrient sensor in the development and progression of NAFLD
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11326781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a liver protein called HDAC1 senses nutrients and helps drive fatty liver disease in people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,788 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK130342-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially those with obesity or type 2 diabetes, are the population most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without NAFLD or with liver disease due to alcohol, viral hepatitis, or unrelated genetic causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will use genetic and laboratory experiments to remove or modify HDAC1 in the liver and observe effects on fat buildup, inflammation, and scarring. They will map how HDAC1 changes gene activity and chromatin accessibility using techniques such as ATAC-seq to link diet and liver damage. Much of the work will use mouse models with liver-specific HDAC1 deletion alongside cell-based tests to trace molecular pathways. The team will compare laboratory findings with available human liver data or samples when possible to relate the results to people with NAFLD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets or strategies to prevent or slow progression of fatty liver disease and its complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical mouse data indicate that liver-specific loss of HDAC1 reduces liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis, but application to human treatment remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shi, Hang — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Shi, Hang
Related research
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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.
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.