Measuring liver health in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) without invasive procedures
Official title: Non-invasive quantification of liver health in NASH (N-QUAN): A prospective diagnostic accuracy study
Funded at Perspectum Diagnostics, INC. · NIH-10624175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for a better way to check liver health in people with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using a special MRI technique, so you can avoid the discomfort of a liver biopsy while still getting accurate results.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Perspectum Diagnostics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (South San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $239,712 |
| NIH project number | 1U01FD007771-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10624175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suspected of having NASH who are scheduled for a liver biopsy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have suspected NASH or those who are not scheduled for liver biopsy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a non-invasive method to assess liver health in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using MRI technology. The study aims to validate a specific MRI-derived biomarker, known as iron-corrected T1 (cT1), which could help identify patients who are more likely to have significant liver damage without the need for painful liver biopsies. By comparing cT1 results with traditional biopsy findings, the research seeks to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient comfort. The study will involve 225 patients suspected of having NASH who are referred for liver biopsy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer and more reliable way to diagnose liver health in NASH patients, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using MRI-derived biomarkers for liver health assessment, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Perspectum Diagnostics, INC.
South San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pandya, Prashant K — Perspectum Diagnostics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Pandya, Prashant K
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.