Understanding a protein's role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Official title: Investigating the role of Lipocalin Prostaglandin D2 Synthase and its metabolite PGD2 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Funded at St. John's University · NIH-11166340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a specific protein and its byproduct might contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hoping to find new ways to help people with this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. John's University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Queens, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $187,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150498-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to help those living with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options would not directly benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
What this research studies
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread liver condition without an approved treatment, and the exact reasons for its development are still unclear. This research focuses on a protein called Lipocalin Prostaglandin D2 Synthase (L-PGDS) and its byproduct, PGD2, which may play a key role in NAFLD. Preliminary findings suggest that a lack of PGD2 could lead to fatty liver disease, possibly involving insulin resistance and weight gain. The goal is to understand how insulin signaling affects this protein's expression and function in the liver. By uncovering these molecular details, this work aims to identify new targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for medications to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which currently has no FDA-approved therapy.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific role of L-PGDS and PGD2 in NAFLD is being newly explored here, previous studies have shown links between obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease.
Where this research is happening
-
St. John's University
Queens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Sunil — St. John's University
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Sunil
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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.