How short telomeres and telomerase reactivation drive liver scarring and cancer
Official title: Telomere dysfunction and telomerase reactivation in the etiology and progression of liver cancer
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11248004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how short telomeres and reactivated telomerase cause liver scarring and hepatocellular carcinoma using human stem-cell models to help people at risk of liver cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | December 13, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $7,205 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA258386-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People most relevant to this work include those with liver fibrosis, familial telomerase or telomere disorders, or early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma suspected to involve telomere dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose liver disease is driven by causes unrelated to telomere dysfunction (for example, some viral, metabolic, or autoimmune conditions) may not receive direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will grow human pluripotent stem cells engineered to carry telomerase mutations or shortened telomeres and turn them into different types of liver cells to mimic disease. They will compare matched cells with and without TERT promoter mutations to see whether telomerase reactivation helps damaged liver cells survive or become cancerous. The team will measure DNA damage signals and the signaling pathways that lead to cell failure, scarring, and tumor formation. Results aim to point to markers or molecular targets that could guide future prevention or treatment strategies for telomere-related liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new markers or therapeutic targets to prevent or treat liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma linked to telomere damage.
How similar studies have gone: Mouse models support the importance of telomere maintenance for liver health, but using human pluripotent stem-cell models to study telomerase reactivation and transformation in liver cells is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Batista, Luis Francisco Zirnberger — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Batista, Luis Francisco Zirnberger
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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.