Patient-derived stem cell models for fatty liver (NAFLD)
Official title: Establishing patient-derived iPSCs as a platform for discovery research in NAFLD
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11369249 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use stem cells made from people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to find genes and cellular changes linked to the condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,614,997 |
| NIH project number | 5RC2DK136052-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369249 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with a diagnosis of NAFLD, especially those willing to provide blood or tissue samples or who have known genetic risk factors, would be the ideal contributors to this effort.
✕Less likely to help
People without NAFLD or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct personal benefit from this lab-based discovery work.
What this research studies
If I participate, researchers will turn donated patient cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then grow them into liver cell types to look for disease features in the lab. They will compare cells from 41 people with NAFLD and 19 controls across 15 transcriptomic, proteomic, and functional tests to create a disease scorecard. The team will grow cells alone and together and use CRISPR-based gene editing/screens to see which genes change the disease features. The resulting cell lines, data, and tools will be cataloged and shared with other liver researchers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could reveal genetic drivers and cellular targets that lead to new biomarkers or treatment approaches for NAFLD.
How similar studies have gone: iPSC-based liver models have helped reveal mechanisms in other liver and metabolic disorders, but applying CRISPR screens to patient-derived hepatocytes for NAFLD is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maher, Jacquelyn J. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Maher, Jacquelyn J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
A study exploring how membrane lipids influence acetyl-CoA metabolism to understand and potentially treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
We’re following people over time to see how the gut microbiome and diet relate to fatty liver disease progression in diverse racial/ethnic groups.
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Genetic and environmental risk for fatty liver cancer in Latinos (GENIAL)
A study to understand why Latino people with fatty liver disease might be more likely to develop liver cancer and to use genetic and environmental clues to predict who is at higher risk.
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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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Role of cholesterol metabolism in toxin-driven liver disease
This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
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Small blood particle signals and fatty liver in children and teens
Researchers are looking at whether molecules carried in tiny blood particles can explain or signal fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with excess weight.
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.