Metabolic stress and liver cancer: how STARD1 and SAB drive disease
Official title: Project 3: Metabolic stress induces mitochondrial dysfunction through STARD1 and SAB leading to HCC
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11418966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how stress inside liver cells related to diabetes and obesity may cause a form of liver cancer by disrupting mitochondria and bile acid processes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $485,306 |
| NIH project number | 5P01CA281819-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with or at risk for NASH and type 2 diabetes, especially those with liver disease progression markers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without liver disease or metabolic syndrome may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on adults with type 2 diabetes and related liver disease. It looks at how ER stress and metabolic overload affect mitochondria in liver cells, potentially leading to NASH-driven hepatocellular carcinoma. The team will explore the roles of STARD1 and SAB in altering bile acid pathways and activating damaging cellular signals. Findings could reveal new targets to prevent or treat liver cancer in people with obesity and diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new ways to prevent or treat NASH-related liver cancer in people with diabetes or obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Some related studies link ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction to liver disease, but this specific SAB/STARD1 pathway in NASH-HCC is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaplowitz, Neil — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Kaplowitz, Neil
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.