Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in alcohol-associated liver disease
Official title: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in alcohol-associated steatohepatitis
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11449325 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team is studying a specific type of immune cell, MDSCs, to see if they help explain why alcohol-related liver disease makes infections and liver failure more likely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $682,736 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032953-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449325 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol-associated hepatitis or related liver disease who meet clinical criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without alcohol-associated liver disease or without infection risk may not benefit from the findings.
What this research studies
This project looks at how myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) behave in alcohol-associated hepatitis and whether these cells suppress the body’s immune response against infections. Researchers will examine MDSC subtypes, their surface markers, and enzymes like Arginase and BTK signaling in both patient samples and a mouse model of the disease. They aim to connect these immune changes to impaired host defense and liver injury, hoping to identify potential targets to improve outcomes. The study uses blood and liver tissue to compare people with alcohol-associated hepatitis to controls, with emphasis on translational relevance to human disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new strategies to boost immune defense and reduce complications in alcohol-associated liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in patients and animal models suggest MDSCs are increased and may suppress immune responses in AH, supporting further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Szabo, Gyongyi — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Szabo, Gyongyi
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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.