How DNA packaging affects liver growth and repair
Chromatin Barriers Impacting Liver Development and Regeneration
This project will learn how changes in DNA packaging and protein regulators influence how liver cells form, function, and recover, with the goal of helping people with liver problems in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242077 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses advanced live imaging and genetic tools to watch how DNA is packaged and how key proteins behave in developing embryos and adult livers. The team will compare normal tissues to tissues with altered chromatin to see how these differences affect where liver cells come from and how they regenerate after injury. They will also look at distinct zones of the adult liver to understand why some regions respond differently during normal upkeep and after damage. The findings aim to explain basic rules of liver formation and repair that could guide future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant appears to fund laboratory and imaging research rather than a patient enrollment study, so it does not currently recruit patients for interventions.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments for liver disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new biological targets or strategies to improve liver regeneration and eventually lead to better treatments for liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have shown chromatin and transcription factors shape liver cell fate in model systems, but applying live in vivo imaging to link chromatin states to zonal regeneration is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaret, Kenneth — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Zaret, Kenneth
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 below.