Investigating how liver cells regenerate after injury
Official title: The role of liver progenitor cells in liver regeneration
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11014052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain cells in the liver can help it heal after serious damage, using zebrafish to learn how these cells change and grow into new liver cells, which could eventually lead to better treatments for liver diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $680,900 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135271-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults suffering from acute or chronic liver diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable liver function and no history of liver disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of liver progenitor cells in the regeneration of the liver, particularly after severe damage. By using a zebrafish model, the study aims to understand how biliary epithelial cells can transform into liver cells following significant liver injury. The researchers will analyze cellular changes and signaling pathways involved in this process, providing insights into liver regeneration mechanisms. This work could lead to new therapeutic strategies for liver diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for liver diseases and enhance recovery strategies for patients with liver failure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding liver regeneration mechanisms, but this specific approach using zebrafish is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goessling, Wolfram — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Goessling, Wolfram
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.