Improving the use of fatty livers for transplantation
Official title: Normothermic perfusion of steatotic livers for transplantation
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11019818 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to keep fatty livers healthy and working better so that more people who need a liver transplant can get one.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $241,200 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131543-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11019818 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with end-stage liver disease who are on the transplant waiting list and may benefit from the use of steatotic livers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver disease that is not related to fatty liver or those who are not eligible for transplantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a method called normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) to enhance the viability of livers that have fatty infiltration, a condition that often makes them unsuitable for transplantation. By keeping the liver at body temperature and providing a continuous blood supply, the study aims to improve liver function and reduce the risk of damage during the transplantation process. The goal is to determine how effective NMP is in preserving and restoring the function of steatotic livers, potentially increasing the number of viable organs available for patients in need of a transplant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of fatty livers that can be safely transplanted, potentially saving many lives.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that normothermic machine perfusion can improve outcomes for some livers, but its effectiveness specifically for steatotic livers is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yeh, Heidi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yeh, Heidi
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.