How liver inflammation may change drinking through the hormone FGF21
Official title: Identifying an immunoregulatory axis for FGF21 in alcohol consumption
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11195681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether liver inflammation cuts levels of the hormone FGF21 and in turn makes people drink more and worsens alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $537,587 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031460-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11195681 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with alcohol use disorder or alcohol-associated liver disease, especially those with ongoing heavy drinking, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose liver problems are unrelated to alcohol or those with distant, resolved alcohol use are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, the researchers are trying to understand a liver-to-brain signal that could influence alcohol craving and liver damage. They will use lab models to change a liver immune switch called IRF3 and its target PLAGL1 to see how those changes affect FGF21 production. The team will link those molecular changes to alcohol drinking behavior and signs of liver injury, mostly in controlled lab experiments that mimic alcoholic liver disease. If restoring FGF21 or blocking the inflammatory signal lowers drinking or protects the liver in these models, it could point to new treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that boost FGF21 or block the inflammatory pathway to reduce heavy drinking and protect the liver.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal and some human genetic studies suggest FGF21 can influence alcohol intake, but targeting the IRF3–PLAGL1 inflammatory pathway is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Suraj J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Patel, Suraj J
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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.