Modeling liver toxicity using advanced computational techniques
Official title: Mechanism-Driven Virtual Adverse Outcome Pathway Modeling for Hepatotoxicity
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-10997329 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new computer models to help predict if new medicines and chemicals could harm the liver, so we can find out faster and more accurately without relying as much on animal testing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | November 16, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $450,989 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES031080-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10997329 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are involved in drug development or are exposed to industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in drug development or who do not have exposure to relevant chemicals may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative computational models to predict liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) of new drugs and environmental chemicals. By utilizing a mechanism-driven Virtual Adverse Outcome Pathway (vAOP) approach, the study aims to enhance the accuracy and speed of toxicity assessments, reducing the reliance on traditional animal testing. The project will validate these models through a combination of in vitro and ex vivo testing, ultimately aiming to create a high-throughput screening method for evaluating the safety of various compounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more reliable assessments of drug and chemical safety, potentially reducing harmful side effects for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using computational models for toxicity prediction, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in safety assessments.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Hao — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Hao
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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.