Macrophages and the developing liver in Alagille syndrome
Official title: The Role of Macrophages in Hepatobiliary Development
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11596385 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how immune cells called macrophages influence liver development in young patients with Alagille syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,454 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK135270-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596385 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be infants or children with Alagille syndrome who may benefit from understanding liver development and potential therapeutic avenues informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not directly involved in this line of basic developmental research may not experience immediate benefits.
What this research studies
Researchers at Yale will study how macrophages affect the growth and structure of the liver in developing models, using zebrafish that lack macrophages and special imaging to watch liver formation in real time. They will map when macrophages interact with the developing liver and what goes wrong if they are missing, focusing on biliary branching and liver cell orientation. The study aims to uncover the signals that attract macrophages to the liver and how these cells influence signaling pathways tied to liver development. Findings could illuminate new targets for therapies that support healthy liver formation in affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new ways to support normal liver development in Alagille syndrome, potentially informing future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that macrophages influence organ development in model systems, suggesting this approach could yield meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goessling, Wolfram — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Goessling, Wolfram
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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.