How caspase‑2 affects liver fat buildup and damage
Official title: Control of Lipogenesis and Hepatic Steatosis by Caspase-2
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11353819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find out if caspase‑2 causes harmful liver fat buildup and inflammation in adults with non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2019 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $674,236 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK120714-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353819 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non‑alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), particularly those undergoing liver testing or biopsy, are the most relevant candidates for related patient activities.
✕Less likely to help
People without fatty liver disease or those whose liver disease is caused by alcohol, viruses, or other unrelated disorders are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You will hear about research that looks at how stress inside liver cell factories (the endoplasmic reticulum) turns on a protein called caspase‑2, which then activates master regulators of fat and cholesterol called SREBP1/2. The team is comparing this caspase‑2 pathway with the usual SCAP‑SREBP pathway and studying how the two pathways interfere with each other during NAFLD and the more damaging NASH. Work uses laboratory models and human liver tissue to connect cell findings to real patient disease. The goal is to find points to block harmful fat buildup and liver inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to stop or reduce liver fat and inflammation in people with NASH.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked ER stress and SREBP signaling to fatty liver, but targeting caspase‑2 specifically is a newer approach that is still being explored in labs.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karin, Michael — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Karin, Michael
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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.