Investigating the causes of liver disease in overweight children
Official title: Understanding the metabolic pathology of pediatric obesity and NAFLD
Funded at University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr · NIH-11013401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects kids, especially those who are overweight, to find out what changes happen in their livers and how this is different from adults, so we can improve ways to diagnose and treat this condition in young people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | April 22, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $503,196 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK129656-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013401 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children and adolescents who are overweight or obese and have been diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have NAFLD may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is increasingly common among obese youth. It aims to identify the metabolic and molecular changes in the liver that contribute to the development and progression of NAFLD in children. By studying specific biomarkers and metabolic pathways, the research seeks to uncover how these factors differ in pediatric patients compared to adults. This could lead to better diagnostic and treatment strategies tailored for young patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for children suffering from NAFLD, potentially preventing severe liver disease later in life.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on NAFLD in adults, this specific focus on pediatric patients and their unique metabolic pathways is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Short, Kevin R. — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Short, Kevin R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Guideline-friendly care for pediatric obesity in clinics
A pediatrics-focused grant aims to help doctors prevent and manage obesity in children by using care practices that follow guidelines.
-
Pediatric obesity care for rural families using clinic and family-based strategies
This grant tests a family-focused behavioral program for children with overweight or obesity in rural areas, plus clinic-level changes to support guideline-based care.
-
PQQ to prevent fatty liver in children of mothers with obesity
Researchers are seeing whether giving the antioxidant PQQ around pregnancy can lower the chance that children born to mothers with obesity develop early fatty liver.
-
Fat-tissue inflammation pathway linking obesity to fatty liver (NAFLD)
This work looks at whether blocking a specific inflammation signal in fat tissue can help prevent or reduce fatty liver in people with obesity.
-
Targeting the mitochondrial magnesium channel Mrs2 for obesity and fatty liver (NAFLD)
This research looks at whether blocking a mitochondrial magnesium channel called Mrs2 can lower liver fat and improve metabolism for people with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or fatty liver disease.
-
RNA chemical tags and liver inflammation in obesity-related fatty liver disease
Researchers are looking at whether changes in an RNA chemical mark called m6A in immune cells drive liver inflammation in people with obesity-related fatty liver disease.
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.