Improving access to liver transplants for underserved communities
Official title: Liver Transplant-Community Access for Referral Equity (LT-CARE) Pilot Study
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11057773 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make it easier for Black individuals and other underserved groups to get liver transplants by finding out what barriers they face and working with local doctors to improve awareness and access to this important treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $244,320 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MD020222-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11057773 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with decompensated cirrhosis, particularly those from Black or Hispanic/Latino/a/x backgrounds, who may face barriers to accessing liver transplant services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have liver disease or those who are not part of the targeted underserved populations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on addressing the inequities in accessing liver transplants, particularly for Black individuals and other underserved populations. It aims to identify barriers that prevent patients from receiving timely referrals for liver transplants and to develop strategies to improve access to this life-saving treatment. The study will involve community gastroenterology practices to enhance awareness and knowledge about liver transplant protocols among healthcare providers. By engaging with these communities, the research seeks to create a more equitable pathway for patients in need of liver transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of patients from underserved communities who receive timely liver transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted disparities in liver transplant referrals, indicating that addressing these inequities could lead to improved outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential based on existing evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nephew, Lauren — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Nephew, Lauren
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
-
Biomarker-guided reduction of immunosuppression after liver transplant
A multicenter trial tests whether using blood biomarkers to guide tapering of immunosuppression in adults with liver transplants can keep people healthy while lowering drug exposure.
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Understanding how liver disease progresses in people waiting for a liver transplant
A study will build a knowledge base that maps how liver disease worsens over time in patients on the transplant waitlist to improve care and planning.
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Biomarkers to tailor liver transplant immunosuppression
A multi-center study using blood biomarkers to guide how immunosuppressive drugs are given to liver transplant patients.
-
Pre-Transplant Immune Health Marker Panel to Predict Liver Transplant Outcomes
A patient-facing biomarker test used before liver transplant to help doctors estimate the risk of early death after the transplant.
-
Thinking skills and self-care after a liver transplant
This project follows people who received liver transplants to learn how changes in thinking and memory affect managing medicines, clinic visits, and overall health.
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.