Multifunctional nanoparticle platform to prevent alcohol-related liver cancer
Official title: Multifunctional Nanoparticle Platform to Prevent Alcohol-Associated HCC Development
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-11379528 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are developing a targeted nanoparticle system to reduce liver scarring and prevent liver cancer in people with heavy alcohol use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | July 3, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $409,913 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA283937-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379528 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with alcohol-associated liver disease at risk of fibrosis progression and HCC, who may qualify for future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without substantial alcohol-related liver damage or advanced fibrosis may not benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a lipid-PLGA nanoparticle that homes in on immune cells in the liver to calm inflammation and fibrotic signaling associated with alcohol-related liver disease. The particles will also deliver an anti-fibrotic drug and release collagenase to improve access to scar tissue. By activating a specific receptor on liver immune cells, the approach hopes to dampen pathways linked to cancer development and fibrosis. The work includes preclinical testing to see how well the nanoparticles accumulate in liver tissue and modulate key biomarkers related to fibrosis and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could slow or prevent the progression from alcohol-related liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma, offering a new therapeutic strategy for patients with heavy alcohol use.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show nanoparticle-based targeting can accumulate in liver immune cells and modulate fibrosis pathways, but this exact Gpbar1-targeted strategy with collagenase release is novel.
Where this research is happening
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Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menon, Jyothi Unnikrishna — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Menon, Jyothi Unnikrishna
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.