Improving liver mitochondria in people with fatty liver using insulin-sensitizing medicines
Official title: Targeting hepatic mitochondrial function in humans with NAFLD using insulin sensitizers
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11323087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Doctors will try insulin-sensitizing medicines to boost liver cell energy and reduce liver fat in adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $682,149 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129676-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes who can attend clinic visits and testing, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without NAFLD, those with advanced cirrhosis, or anyone who cannot take insulin-sensitizing drugs due to contraindications may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will give insulin-sensitizing medicines and track changes in how your liver mitochondria produce energy, using blood tests, metabolic studies, and imaging and sometimes liver tissue samples. They plan to enroll adults with NAFLD, including those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, and measure mitochondrial activity such as TCA cycle flux and markers of oxidative stress. The team will compare measurements taken before and after treatment to see if improving insulin sensitivity lowers liver fat, oxidative damage, and signs of inflammation. Safety and side effects will be monitored throughout the treatment period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower liver fat and reduce the chance of progression from NAFL to NASH, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Some insulin-sensitizing drugs (for example, pioglitazone) have helped people with NAFLD/NASH in prior trials, but directly targeting mitochondrial function in humans is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Norton, Luke — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Norton, Luke
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
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Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
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This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
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Small blood particle signals and fatty liver in children and teens
Researchers are looking at whether molecules carried in tiny blood particles can explain or signal fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with excess weight.
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.