Novel humanized liver model to study alcoholic liver fibrosis
Official title: Development of a Novel Humanized Liver Model with Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11373500 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to build a humanized liver model to better understand alcohol-related liver fibrosis and test potential therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $426,563 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AA032616-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373500 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with alcoholic liver disease or liver fibrosis may benefit indirectly through faster development of effective treatments.
✕Less likely to help
This specific research tool does not involve direct patient participation or benefit in the study itself.
What this research studies
This grant supports creating a liver model in which human liver cells and immune/endothelial cells are grown in a mouse-derived system to resemble human liver biology. The team will use this model to study how alcohol exposure drives fibrosis and early liver damage, with a focus on translating findings to people with alcoholic liver disease. The work builds on prior development of a humanized liver and plans to test responses to ethanol to mirror human disease features. Results could inform new treatment strategies for alcoholic liver fibrosis, a leading cause of liver-related deaths.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this model could accelerate the development and testing of therapies for alcoholic liver disease by providing a more human-relevant platform.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows humanized livers can model human liver biology and disease features, suggesting potential for meaningful translation but requires further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaffe, Eleanna — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kaffe, Eleanna
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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.