How bariatric surgery helps the liver heal by immune cells
Official title: Macrophages mediate the protective effects of bariatric surgery against steatohepatitis
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11455274 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how weight-loss surgery may protect the liver from fatty inflammation by changing liver immune cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,552 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145728-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455274 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and MAFLD/MASH who are considering or have had bariatric surgery, or who have related liver inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
People without obesity-related liver disease or those not considering bariatric surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have obesity-related liver disease, this project looks at whether bariatric surgery can calm liver inflammation through repair-boosting immune cells in the liver. The researchers will study how surgeries like vertical sleeve gastrectomy affect liver fat, inflammation, and healing pathways over time. They plan to pinpoint macrophage-driven processes that might explain why some patients’ liver health improves after weight loss surgery. The work uses animal and human data to map immune changes and test ideas about reversing liver damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these immune pathways could lead to new treatments that mimic surgery’s liver-protective effects for patients who can’t have surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest weight loss and metabolic improvements can reduce liver inflammation, but the specific immune mechanisms in the liver are still being investigated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Revelo, Xavier — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Revelo, Xavier
Related research
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-
Comparing medicines and weight-loss surgery for liver disease linked to metabolic problems
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BREW ME Model: How bariatric surgery changes alcohol use biology
A study investigates why some people drink more or develop hazardous drinking after bariatric surgery, using biology and behavior to understand the change.
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Gut bacteria changes after bariatric surgery and colorectal cancer risk
This study will follow adults who had bariatric surgery to understand how changes in the gut microbiome and bile acids might influence colorectal cancer risk.
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.