Understanding how a protein called HSP90 affects alcoholic liver disease
Official title: Heat shock protein 90 in alcoholic liver disease: targeting macrophage Function
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11129841 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how a specific protein, HSP90, influences immune cells in the liver to better understand and treat alcoholic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2009 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $593,939 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA017986-14 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129841 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for individuals interested in the underlying causes of alcoholic liver disease and the development of future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical trial participation may not find direct benefit from this basic science project at this stage.
What this research studies
Our liver's immune cells play a big role in alcoholic liver disease, but we don't fully understand how they become active. This project focuses on a protein called HSP90, which helps protect cells from stress and is already being explored as a treatment target for other conditions. We've found that two forms of HSP90 are important in alcoholic liver disease and that blocking one of them can help prevent and reverse liver damage. This work aims to uncover the exact ways these HSP90 proteins cause inflammation in the liver, which could lead to new treatment approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to reduce liver inflammation and damage for people with alcoholic liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work by this team has shown that targeting HSP90 can prevent and reverse liver injury in models of alcoholic liver disease, suggesting a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mandrekar, Pranoti — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Mandrekar, Pranoti
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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.