Lipotoxicity and Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
Official title: Lipotoxicity in Alcoholic Liver Disease
Funded at University of North Carolina Greensboro · NIH-11450399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how fatty acids cause liver cell damage in alcohol-related liver disease to help develop new treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Greensboro NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greensboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2009 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $489,447 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AA018844-17A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450399 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; results may inform future therapies for individuals with alcohol-related liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is described in this grant.
What this research studies
We will explore how fatty acids in the liver contribute to lipotoxicity and liver injury in alcohol-related liver disease. The research looks at key genes and proteins, like ACSL1 and ASCL1, to understand how fatty acids trigger stress and cell death in liver cells. By identifying the molecular pathways involved, this work aims to point to targets for future therapies that could prevent progression from fatty liver to more serious disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide development of therapies to reduce liver damage in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows fatty acids can drive lipotoxicity in liver disease, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Greensboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Zhanxiang — University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Zhanxiang
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This work looks at whether certain harmful gut bacteria make liver disease worse in people who drink heavily.
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.