Integrated care for early liver transplant in alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: 3/4-The INTEGRATE Study: Evaluating INTEGRATEd Care to Improve Biopsychosocial Outcomes of Early Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11137784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether coordinated addiction and medical care helps people with alcohol-related liver disease who receive early liver transplants stay sober and have better health and quality of life after transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $399,892 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030968-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with alcohol-associated liver disease (severe cirrhosis or alcohol-associated hepatitis) who are being evaluated for an early liver transplant, typically with less than six months of abstinence.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol-related liver disease, those not being considered for transplant, or patients unwilling to engage in integrated addiction care or follow-up may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, this project will follow people with severe alcohol-related liver disease who are being considered for early liver transplant and collect medical, behavioral, and social information over time. It brings together several transplant centers to use the same questionnaires and clinical measures so results from different hospitals can be compared. The team will look at who gets referred for early transplant, what barriers they face, and how integrated addiction and liver care affects outcomes like return to drinking, survival, and well-being. The project will also build models to predict patient-centered outcomes and involve stakeholders beyond transplant doctors to make care more practical for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better support around transplant that reduces return-to-drinking, improves survival, and enhances mental and social recovery after transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Previous retrospective studies of early transplant for alcohol-associated hepatitis reported acceptable outcomes, but prospective multicenter data on integrated care and broader ALD populations are limited, so this approach builds on some evidence but still needs prospective testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldberg, David Seth — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Goldberg, David Seth
Related research
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-
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HOPE liver transplant: reducing infections and cancer risk for HIV-positive recipients
This grant aims to better understand why HIV-positive liver transplant recipients face higher infection and cancer risks and to improve safety and outcomes for these patients.
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Early liver transplant decisions for severe alcohol-related liver disease
A large study follows adults with severe alcohol-related liver disease to understand how to best select and manage patients for early liver transplantation.
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Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
A hospital-based program is studying whether offering an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis can save lives when standard medical treatment fails.
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Early liver transplant for severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) to save lives
A Johns Hopkins program is testing whether giving an early liver transplant to patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who can’t be helped by standard treatments can save lives and reduce relapse risk.
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.