How frailty affects liver transplant outcomes in older adults with liver cancer
Official title: The Impact of Frailty on Liver Transplant Outcomes in Older Adults with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11010004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being frail affects recovery and health after a liver transplant in older adults with liver cancer, aiming to find better ways to care for these patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $188,743 |
| NIH project number | 5K24AG080021-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and are considering or awaiting liver transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients under the age of 65 or those without hepatocellular carcinoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between frailty and liver transplant outcomes specifically in older adults diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The study aims to apply principles of aging and geriatric care to better understand how frailty impacts recovery and overall health after liver transplantation. By leveraging a large cohort of patients, the research will analyze various factors, including cognitive health and functional abilities, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by older liver transplant recipients. The findings could lead to improved care strategies tailored for this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the management and outcomes of liver transplantation for older adults, potentially leading to better recovery and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the impact of aging and frailty on health outcomes in transplant populations, indicating that this approach is both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lai, Jennifer C. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lai, Jennifer C.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Glutamine and macrophage behavior in liver cancer
A funded project at a medical university aims to understand how the liver’s immune cells interact with a specific type of liver cancer by looking at metabolism, especially glutamine and ammonia.
-
Innate and Adaptive Immunoregulation in Liver Transplant Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
A liver transplant-focused project investigates how the body’s early and later immune responses affect transplant failure or success after reperfusion.
-
Exercise-based frailty program for people awaiting lung transplants
A tailored exercise and lifestyle program is being tested to reduce frailty and improve outcomes for people waiting for a lung transplant.
-
Adding PSMA PET/CT imaging to liver cancer care for veterans
This project tests a new PET imaging approach to help diagnose and guide treatment for liver cancer in veterans.
-
Blood markers to catch early liver cancer in Hispanic people with hepatitis B
This project will see if a blood test can find liver cancer earlier in Hispanic people who have chronic hepatitis B.
-
Early blood markers to find hepatitis B–related liver cancer in Hispanics
This project will use immune-related blood markers to find liver cancer earlier in people with chronic hepatitis B, focusing on Hispanic adults.
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.