Preventing and treating fatty liver during pregnancy and after childbirth
Targeting Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease during the reproductive period to improve women's health outcomes
This project screens pregnant and postpartum women for fatty liver using blood tests and non-invasive tools to track liver changes that could affect their long-term health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11228037 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you'll be offered screening during pregnancy using non-invasive tests and blood-based lipid analysis to look for signs of MASLD/MASH. The team will collect clinical information, blood samples, and follow you after delivery to see whether liver disease appears or gets worse. Researchers aim to identify people at higher risk—for example, those with higher pre-pregnancy weight or Hispanic ethnicity—to enable earlier monitoring and care. Participation typically involves questionnaires, blood draws, and clinic visits before and after childbirth.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people or women of reproductive age (especially those with higher pre-pregnancy weight or who identify as Hispanic) are the best fit for this work.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, men, or those with liver disease from other known causes are unlikely to benefit from this pregnancy-focused effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection and targeted follow-up to help prevent advanced liver disease in women.
How similar studies have performed: A prior pilot (FLIP I) found a 14% prevalence of MASLD in pregnancy and worsening after delivery, so the approach is promising but still being expanded and tested.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kushner, Tatyana — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Kushner, Tatyana
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 below.