New treatment options for liver disease linked to obesity
Official title: Small Molecule PAR1 Ligands for the Treatment of MASH
Funded at Function Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11007625 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a liver disease called MASH, which is linked to obesity, and it’s testing new small molecules that might help reduce inflammation in the liver, with the hope that these findings could lead to better treatments for people like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Function Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $463,714 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DK141373-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007625 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver diseases unrelated to metabolic dysfunction or those who are not adults may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a liver disease that leads to inflammation and fibrosis, often related to obesity. The project aims to explore the use of small molecule modulators that can induce anti-inflammatory signals in liver tissue, potentially reversing the harmful effects of MASH. By testing these compounds in mice, the researchers hope to identify effective treatments that could eventually be developed for human patients. The approach involves synthesizing novel compounds that alter the signaling pathways in liver cells to reduce inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new FDA-approved treatments for MASH, improving liver health and quality of life for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using small molecule modulators for liver diseases is innovative, there is limited prior research specifically targeting MASH with this method, making this a novel investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Function Therapeutics, INC.
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dockendorff, Christopher — Function Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Dockendorff, Christopher
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.