Investigating liver dysfunction caused by non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using bioengineered technology
Official title: Ex-vivo bioengineered technology to unravel dysfunction due to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11085912 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a serious liver condition called NASH by taking blood from patients and turning it into liver-like cells to better understand how the disease works and find new ways to treat it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $686,972 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132873-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085912 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or end-stage liver disease requiring transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver diseases unrelated to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe liver condition that can lead to liver transplantation. By using a novel approach, the study will collect peripheral blood from patients with NASH and convert these cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs will then be transformed into liver-like cells to explore how different factors affect liver metabolism in a controlled environment. This method aims to provide insights into disease progression and potential treatments without the complications of traditional methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective treatments for NASH and improve patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using bioengineered systems to study liver diseases, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wertheim, Jason a — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Wertheim, Jason a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Role of metabolic stress in NASH-related liver cancer
This grant explores how metabolic stress linked to NASH may drive liver cancer and looks for ways to interrupt that process to help patients.
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TREM2: a helper in liver inflammation and scarring in NASH
A new approach studies how a liver immune receptor called TREM2 helps protect against liver inflammation and scarring in people with fatty liver disease that can progress to NASH.
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Genes behind fatty liver disease and NASH
This project looks at how specific genes change fatty liver disease and scarring to help guide better tests and treatments for people with NAFLD/NASH.
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Ex-vivo bioengineered liver cells to study NASH-related dysfunction
Researchers will use patient-derived stem cell–made liver cells in a lab setup to understand why NASH causes liver damage and how stiffness of the liver’s surroundings affects this process.
-
How TREM2 on immune cells affects fatty liver disease (NASH)
This project looks at whether the immune protein TREM2 helps drive liver inflammation and scarring in people with NASH.
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New small-molecule medicines that stabilize Axin to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Trying new small-molecule drugs that stabilize Axin to lower liver fat and scarring for people with NASH.
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.