Understanding and Treating Fatty Liver Disease
Official title: Clinical Research on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11166644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find better ways to understand, diagnose, and treat fatty liver disease, which affects many adults and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2002 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $250,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK061734-25 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including both adults and children, are the focus of this work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without MASLD or NAFLD would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Fatty liver disease, now called MASLD, affects a large number of adults and children in the United States. For some, it can progress to a more serious form called MASH, which can lead to liver damage and other severe health problems. Currently, there are no approved medicines specifically for MASH. This long-standing research network is working to find effective treatments and develop better ways to detect the disease and predict how it might progress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medicines and improved diagnostic tools for individuals living with fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: The NASH CRN has been actively working since 2002, successfully characterizing the natural history of MASLD and developing diagnostics, indicating a track record of progress in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Loomba, Rohit — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Loomba, Rohit
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting fatty liver disease in women around pregnancy to improve health
This grant explores how to identify and help pregnant and postpartum women who are at risk for fatty liver disease to prevent liver problems later.
-
Clinically meaningful research on fatty liver disease in adults and children
A nationwide effort studying MASLD, the major form of fatty liver disease, to find better ways to identify who is at risk and how to treat it, including kids and adults.
-
NAFLD in PCOS: Do androgens drive liver injury and fatty liver progression?
Young women with PCOS may face liver disease progression due to high androgen levels, and this research looks at targeted ways to slow or prevent that progression.
-
Ultrasound tests to find and track fatty liver in children
This project develops easy-to-use ultrasound methods to find and monitor liver fat in children who are overweight or obese.
-
How genes and heavy metals influence fatty liver disease
This project looks at how a person’s genes and the amounts of metals in their liver together relate to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Gm4951 gene and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Researchers are looking at whether changes in the Gm4951 gene affect how much fat builds up in the liver for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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.