LiverScope: a simple clinic device to measure liver fat
Official title: Accurate Point of Care Liver Disease Diagnostics, Phase II
Funded at Livivos INC. · NIH-11069108 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing LiverScope, a compact MRI-based device to measure liver fat in adults with or at risk for fatty liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Livivos INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $947,354 |
| NIH project number | 2R44DK135225-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11069108 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with known or suspected MASLD/NAFLD or with risk factors such as type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children under 21, people without liver fat concerns, or those with MRI contraindications (for example certain implanted metal devices) may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team is building a small, table-top magnetic resonance device that can sit in a regular clinic room or be operated from a mobile van to measure liver fat without complex shielding. They will first improve the device’s signal accuracy and penetration, test those improvements in lab phantoms, and then run a clinical performance study in adults with known or suspected metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The project also includes compliance and performance testing needed to support a future FDA 510(k) clearance and wider clinical use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make accurate liver-fat measurement available at local clinics or mobile units, improving earlier diagnosis and easier monitoring of fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: MRI-derived proton-density fat fraction (PDFF) is an established biomarker used successfully in other studies, but this compact, noise-free tabletop MR device is a novel approach that still needs clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Livivos INC.
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prado, Pablo J — Livivos INC.
- Study coordinator: Prado, Pablo J
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.