Investigating liver disease and health equity in Hawaii
HAWAII CLINICAL RESEARCH NETWORK FOR HEALTH EQUITY
This study is looking at how factors like where you live and your lifestyle affect liver health in people with fatty liver disease, using a special ultrasound called FibroScan, and it aims to see if this test should be a regular part of doctor visits to help everyone, especially in Hawaii, get better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), using a non-invasive ultrasound technique called FibroScan. The study aims to assess the relationship between social determinants of health and liver disease in both urban and rural settings across Hawaii. By expanding the participant pool to include diverse populations from the neighbor islands, the research seeks to determine if FibroScan assessments should be integrated into standard primary care practices. This approach will help identify health disparities and improve liver health management in the community.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals aged 21 and older who are at risk for or diagnosed with liver disease, particularly those from diverse ethnic backgrounds in Hawaii.
Not a fit: Patients who are under 21 years old or those without risk factors for liver disease may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved early diagnosis and management of liver disease in diverse populations across Hawaii.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in using non-invasive techniques like FibroScan for liver disease assessment, indicating that this approach is promising and has been tested in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shikuma, Cecilia M. — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Shikuma, Cecilia M.
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 below.