Liver cirrhosis clinical centers network
Official title: Liver Cirrhosis Network: Clinical Research Centers
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11169754 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows people with cirrhosis from causes like fatty liver disease, alcohol-related liver disease, and HIV to collect medical data and samples that help spot who is at higher risk for liver complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | September 13, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $362,704 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK130134-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11169754 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with compensated liver cirrhosis from NASH, alcohol-related liver disease, or those living with HIV who can attend follow-up visits and provide blood samples are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with decompensated or end-stage liver disease (for example those already listed for transplant) or those unable to attend study visits are less likely to benefit from this observational network.
What this research studies
If you join, the network will enroll people with compensated cirrhosis from different causes and follow them over time with regular clinic visits, blood draws, imaging and other tests. The project will collect and store biological samples and standard clinical data at multiple centers across the U.S., with outcomes like liver events and death tracked by a central adjudication process. Researchers will test non-invasive tools such as spleen stiffness measurements and blood biomarkers (for example PRO-C3 and the ELF test) to see which best predict problems. This is an observational effort (no experimental drugs in the core protocol) designed to support future mechanistic and treatment trials that could enroll participants from the network.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better non-invasive tests and earlier interventions that prevent liver complications and save lives.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller studies have shown promise for biomarkers and imaging to predict liver outcomes, but this large, multi-center, etiology-agnostic network is broader and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanyal, Arun J — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Sanyal, Arun J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Liver Cirrhosis Network: Centers for Clinical Research
A multicenter study in people with cirrhosis from different causes (including HIV, NASH, and alcohol-related liver disease) to collect data and samples and test new ways to predict and monitor disease progression.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Mayo Clinic's Clinical Research Center
A Mayo Clinic-led project will follow and help people with compensated cirrhosis, using data, imaging, and a big AI tool to predict when complications may happen and test whether a statin can improve outcomes.
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Liver Cirrhosis Network: Longitudinal and Clinical Trial Studies
A network-wide NIH study focused on understanding cirrhosis better to prevent complications and improve care for people with advanced liver disease.
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Liver Cirrhosis Network: Coordinating Data for Better Care
A national effort is coordinating data to improve care for people with advanced liver disease and its complications.
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Liver Cirrhosis Network coordinating cirrhosis studies and a rosuvastatin trial
This project follows people with liver cirrhosis over time and tests whether the cholesterol medicine rosuvastatin helps people with cirrhosis.
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First-in-class treatment for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension
A new therapy called XFB19 aims to reduce liver inflammation and scarring in people with advanced liver disease and portal hypertension.
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.