NNMT as a Target to Treat Alcoholic Liver Disease
Official title: Hepatic Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase (NNMT) as a Pathogenetic Mechanism and Therapeutic Target for Alcoholic Liver Disease
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11380807 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if blocking an enzyme called NNMT can help people with alcoholic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,509 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA030255-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380807 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with alcoholic liver disease in the pre-cirrhotic to early cirrhosis stages, or those contributing samples in related studies according to future translational plans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without alcohol-related liver disease or advanced liver failure may not benefit from this mechanism-focused research.
What this research studies
This project at the University of Illinois at Chicago will explore how NNMT contributes to liver damage from alcohol and whether inhibiting it can prevent or reverse disease features. Researchers will use animal models and cellular approaches to understand how NNMT affects liver metabolism and stress responses, with a focus on potential therapeutic effects. The aim is to identify mechanisms and preclinical evidence that could lead to new treatments for ALD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide development of therapies that slow or halt alcoholic liver disease and protect liver function.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest NNMT inhibition may improve liver stress responses and metabolic regulation in alcohol exposure models, indicating potential but still early-stage results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Song, Zhenyuan — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Song, Zhenyuan
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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.