NAFLD care pathway for Veterans in VA primary care
Official title: Testing the Effectiveness of NAFLD Clinical Care Pathway in VA Primary Care
Funded at Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center · NIH-11310734 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will introduce a step-by-step screening and follow-up plan in VA primary care to find and manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003655-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310734 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult Veterans receiving primary care in the VA, especially those with obesity, diabetes, abnormal liver tests, or other metabolic risk factors, are the intended candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People already under specialty liver care for advanced disease, those whose liver problems are primarily alcohol-related, or those without fatty liver risk factors are unlikely to benefit from this pathway.
What this research studies
If you get care at VA primary care, an electronic alert will flag patients at risk for fatty liver and prompt your clinician to take a targeted history and order specific lab tests. Your clinician will use a simple, calculated score (FIB-4) to check for liver fibrosis and, if the score is unclear, you may be offered a FibroScan (noninvasive ultrasound) for further testing. Results will guide clear next steps, such as lifestyle counseling, weight-loss support, or referral to liver specialists when needed. The pathway is being adapted for VA clinics and will be tried prospectively to see how well it finds and stages NAFLD in Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could catch fatty liver disease earlier in Veterans and link them to treatments and support that reduce the risk of severe liver damage.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary VA data and widespread use of noninvasive tools like FIB-4 and FibroScan support this approach, and similar pathway-based programs have shown promise.
Where this research is happening
-
Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: El-Serag, Hashem B — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: El-Serag, Hashem B
Related research
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Improving care for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in VA primary care
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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.