Investigating a new signaling pathway in alcoholic liver disease
Official title: A novel cholinergic circuitry in alcoholic liver disease (NIAAA)
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11018509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a new way that liver cells talk to immune cells might help protect the liver from damage caused by drinking alcohol, and it's aimed at finding new treatments for people with alcoholic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,967 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA028761-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018509 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with alcoholic liver disease or those at risk of developing liver damage due to alcohol consumption.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver disease not related to alcohol consumption may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores a newly discovered cholinergic signaling pathway in the liver that may play a protective role against damage caused by alcohol consumption. The study focuses on how immune cells in the liver communicate with liver cells through acetylcholine, particularly in the context of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Researchers will use advanced techniques, including flow cytometry, to analyze liver cells from specially bred mice after alcohol exposure. The goal is to understand the mechanisms behind liver damage and identify potential therapeutic targets for ALD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for alcoholic liver disease, improving outcomes for patients suffering from this condition.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific cholinergic signaling pathway being investigated is novel, similar approaches have shown promise in understanding liver diseases and developing new therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Jun — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Wu, Jun
Related research
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-
NNMT as a Target to Treat Alcoholic Liver Disease
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How gut fungi may drive alcohol-related liver damage
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-
Heat shock protein 90 and alcohol-related liver disease: how macrophages fuel inflammation
This project looks at how a cellular stress protein, HSP90, affects liver inflammation in people with alcohol-related liver disease by focusing on macrophages.
-
Why alcohol-related liver disease can come back after a transplant
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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.