Mass spectrometry tools to find liver disease biomarkers in people with fatty liver disease
Official title: Mass spectrometry for highly sensitive and sample-sparing analysis of extracellular vesicles in liver diseases
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11411089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic team is testing a new, sensitive blood test method to spot biomarkers from liver disease (NAFLD/NASH) using extracellular vesicles, with the goal of better diagnosing and tracking progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $632,157 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134661-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at risk for NAFLD/NASH who may have liver disease progression and are candidates for noninvasive biomarker testing.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or without the need for biomarker testing may not benefit from this specific test development.
What this research studies
This project focuses on improving noninvasive biomarker tests for NAFLD and NASH by using advanced mass spectrometry to analyze extracellular vesicles in blood. Researchers aim to overcome sample-volume limitations and identify signals that clearly distinguish NAFL from NASH and indicate progression. The study plans to develop scalable blood-based biomarkers that can be tested repeatedly over time, informing risk and treatment decisions. The work is conducted with patient blood samples and involves translating laboratory findings into a clinically useful assay. If successful, the approach could lead to easier, noninvasive monitoring for people at risk of liver damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from easier, earlier, and repeatable tests to diagnose and monitor NAFLD/NASH without invasive procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that extracellular vesicle biomarkers can reflect liver pathology, but reliable, scalable tests are still being developed, making this approach promising but exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Revzin, Alexander — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Revzin, Alexander
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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.