Measuring body fat and liver health in children using advanced MRI techniques
Official title: Quantifying Body Composition and Liver Disease in Children using Free-Breathing MRI and MRE
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10560491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new, gentle ways to take pictures of kids' bodies to check for fat and liver health, especially for those who might have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, so that doctors can help them early without needing any painful procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | May 8, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $542,722 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK124417-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10560491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are obese or at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not children or those without obesity or liver disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing non-invasive imaging techniques to assess body composition and liver health in children, particularly those at risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). By utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), the study aims to accurately quantify visceral fat and liver fibrosis without the need for invasive procedures like biopsies. This approach is particularly important for young children who cannot hold their breath during traditional imaging methods. The goal is to improve early diagnosis and treatment options for pediatric obesity and liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better early diagnosis and management of liver disease in children, potentially preventing severe complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using MRI and MRE for similar applications in adults, but this specific approach for children is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Holden H — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wu, Holden H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Preterm infant body composition and early-life health after NICU stay
This grant studies how body composition in very preterm babies relates to later brain development and risk of obesity or diabetes, with findings meant to improve care from NICU through early childhood.
-
Body composition and outcomes after lung transplant
A patient-focused look at how body fat and muscle measurements around the time of lung transplant relate to recovery, complications, and quality of life after surgery.
-
How obesity drugs and exercise affect muscle and body fat in adults with obesity and diabetes
This project studies how obesity medications, with or without exercise, change muscle and fat in adults who have obesity and adult-onset diabetes.
-
Advanced body fat imaging to improve lung transplant outcomes
This project uses CT imaging of fat distribution to better predict who will do well with a lung transplant and when to list them, with the goal of improving survival after transplant.
-
Understanding how body composition and microvascular heart problems relate to cardiometabolic disease in women and men
This NIH grant will use advanced imaging to study how obesity, coronary microvascular dysfunction, and HFpEF create different cardiometabolic heart disease profiles, with a focus on women.
-
Body composition and outcomes after lung transplant
This study explores how body composition affects recovery and patient-reported well-being after lung transplantation.
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.