NAFLD in PCOS: Do androgens drive liver injury and fatty liver progression?
Official title: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Role of Androgens on Liver Injury and NAFLD Progression
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11345167 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Young women with PCOS may face liver disease progression due to high androgen levels, and this research looks at targeted ways to slow or prevent that progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $689,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134633-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345167 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with PCOS and signs of liver involvement or NAFLD/NASH, especially women of reproductive age.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without PCOS or without liver involvement may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have PCOS and are dealing with liver concerns, this project explores whether androgens worsen liver injury and fat buildup in the liver. The study focuses on how androgens might affect fat tissue and liver metabolism, aiming to identify specific targets for therapy. By examining hormone-related pathways in PCOS patients, researchers hope to uncover why liver disease starts earlier and progresses faster in this group. Findings could point to new treatments that block harmful androgen effects on the liver.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new hormone-targeted therapies to prevent or slow liver disease in women with PCOS.
How similar studies have gone: Previous data suggest a link between androgens and liver disease in PCOS, but this project seeks mechanistic targets that are not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkar, Monika — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Sarkar, Monika
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How Androgens Affect Liver Health in Women with PCOS
This project explores how elevated androgen levels in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) may lead to liver damage and the progression of fatty liver disease.
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The impact of androgens on liver health in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
This study is looking at how high levels of certain hormones in women with PCOS might harm their liver and lead to fatty liver disease, and it hopes to find ways to help improve liver health for those affected.
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Better liver imaging for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
This research is creating new MRI techniques to check for liver inflammation and damage in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without needing a biopsy.
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Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
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Targeting fatty liver disease in women around pregnancy to improve health
This grant explores how to identify and help pregnant and postpartum women who are at risk for fatty liver disease to prevent liver problems later.
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Clinically meaningful research on fatty liver disease in adults and children
A nationwide effort studying MASLD, the major form of fatty liver disease, to find better ways to identify who is at risk and how to treat it, including kids and adults.
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.