Liver Health in Southern Adults
Southern Liver Health Cohort
This project follows adults in the Southern U.S. to link environmental exposures and biological changes with rising liver disease and cancer rates.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178449 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows adults in Southern states over time to track liver health, environmental exposures, and medical outcomes. Participants provide health information, blood and other biospecimens, and agree to active follow-up and medical record review. Researchers will measure contaminants such as arsenic, cadmium, and PFAS and look for biological markers, including epigenetic changes, that might connect exposures to fatty liver, fibrosis, or cancer. The study focuses on rural and Southern communities to explain regional differences in liver cancer rates.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who live in Southern U.S. communities (especially rural areas), are willing to provide biospecimens and medical information, and can participate in follow-up are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those living outside the Southern U.S., or anyone unable or unwilling to provide samples or participate in follow-up visits are unlikely to be part of or benefit from this cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal exposure and biological signals that lead to better prevention, earlier detection, or more tailored care for people at risk of liver disease in the South.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and some human population work have linked metals and PFAS to fatty liver and liver cancer, but large prospective cohorts with biospecimens focused on Southern/rural populations are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoyo, Cathrine — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Hoyo, Cathrine
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.