Macrophages and healing in alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: Macrophage subsets in resolution of alcohol-associated liver disease
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11553117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how specific liver immune cells called macrophages help the liver recover after stopping alcohol in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $348,662 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA033841-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11553117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with alcohol-related liver disease who may benefit from improved recovery strategies after reducing or stopping alcohol consumption.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without liver damage or those not pursuing abstinence-related recovery strategies may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
In this project, scientists use a mouse model to understand how liver macrophages change after people stop drinking and how these cells contribute to reversing fibrosis. They have identified new macrophage types that resemble lipid-associated macrophages and may help clear scar tissue in the liver. The study looks at gene signals and cell behaviors to pinpoint why liver repair is slow and what triggers better healing after abstinence. The goal is to translate these findings into ideas for therapies that support liver recovery in patients with alcohol-related liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to therapies that boost liver repair and reduce the risk of liver failure or need for transplant after stopping alcohol.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that macrophage behavior is linked to fibrosis resolution; this project builds on those findings with novel macrophage subsets.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weinman, Steven a — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Weinman, Steven a
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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.