Predicting health outcomes for people with liver cirrhosis
Official title: LIVOPT -- LIVer cirrhosis - Optimizing Prediction of Patient OuTcomes
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11137839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will create better ways to predict which people with liver cirrhosis — especially older adults — are most likely to have hospital stays, serious complications, or die.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $590,208 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG070194-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137839 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with liver cirrhosis who receive care within the participating Chicago-area health systems and whose electronic health records are included in CAPriCORN.
✕Less likely to help
People without cirrhosis, those treated outside the participating health systems, or whose records are not captured in the CAPriCORN network are unlikely to be included or directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you have liver cirrhosis, this project uses medical records from nine Chicago-area health systems to learn how the disease progresses and who ends up hospitalized or dying. The team will analyze lab results, diagnoses, hospital visits, and other electronic health record information from about 160,000 patients captured in the CAPriCORN network. They will build and test prediction models and compare risk patterns in older versus younger adults. Results will aim to point out which patients may need closer monitoring or earlier interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help clinicians spot high-risk patients earlier so they can offer closer follow-up, preventive care, or timely treatment to reduce hospital stays and deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior prediction models for cirrhosis exist but were limited by narrow or single-system data, and using a large, diverse multi-system EHR network is a broader and relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ladner, Daniela P — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Ladner, Daniela P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Centers for Clinical Research
A multicenter study in people with cirrhosis from different causes (including HIV, NASH, and alcohol-related liver disease) to collect data and samples and test new ways to predict and monitor disease progression.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Mayo Clinic's Clinical Research Center
A Mayo Clinic-led project will follow and help people with compensated cirrhosis, using data, imaging, and a big AI tool to predict when complications may happen and test whether a statin can improve outcomes.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Longitudinal and Clinical Trial Studies
A network-wide NIH study focused on understanding cirrhosis better to prevent complications and improve care for people with advanced liver disease.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network: Coordinating Data for Better Care
A national effort is coordinating data to improve care for people with advanced liver disease and its complications.
-
Liver Cirrhosis Network coordinating cirrhosis studies and a rosuvastatin trial
This project follows people with liver cirrhosis over time and tests whether the cholesterol medicine rosuvastatin helps people with cirrhosis.
-
First-in-class treatment for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension
A new therapy called XFB19 aims to reduce liver inflammation and scarring in people with advanced liver disease and portal hypertension.
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.