Understanding how a protein called TREM2 affects non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Official title: Dissecting the Intracellular and Extracellular Role of TREM2 in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11176076 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how a protective protein called TREM2 works inside and outside liver cells to help prevent the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a serious liver condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,028 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK137061-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176076 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or NASH who might benefit from future therapies developed from this understanding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without NAFLD or NASH are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research, as it focuses on the mechanisms of this particular liver disease.
What this research studies
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a growing cause of liver disease, but we don't fully understand why some people with fatty liver get worse while others don't. This research focuses on a protein called TREM2, which appears to protect the liver from NASH and scarring. We are looking into how TREM2 works within liver cells and also how a soluble form of TREM2, found in the blood, might act as a protective signal. By understanding these mechanisms, we hope to uncover new ways to treat or prevent NASH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for NASH by targeting the TREM2 protein or its soluble form, potentially preventing liver damage and the need for liver transplants.
How similar studies have gone: While TREM2 is known to be involved in other inflammatory conditions, its specific role and therapeutic potential in NASH, especially regarding its soluble form, is a novel area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhar, Debanjan — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Dhar, Debanjan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Role of metabolic stress in NASH-related liver cancer
This grant explores how metabolic stress linked to NASH may drive liver cancer and looks for ways to interrupt that process to help patients.
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TREM2: a helper in liver inflammation and scarring in NASH
A new approach studies how a liver immune receptor called TREM2 helps protect against liver inflammation and scarring in people with fatty liver disease that can progress to NASH.
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Genes behind fatty liver disease and NASH
This project looks at how specific genes change fatty liver disease and scarring to help guide better tests and treatments for people with NAFLD/NASH.
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Ex-vivo bioengineered liver cells to study NASH-related dysfunction
Researchers will use patient-derived stem cell–made liver cells in a lab setup to understand why NASH causes liver damage and how stiffness of the liver’s surroundings affects this process.
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How TREM2 on immune cells affects fatty liver disease (NASH)
This project looks at whether the immune protein TREM2 helps drive liver inflammation and scarring in people with NASH.
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New small-molecule medicines that stabilize Axin to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Trying new small-molecule drugs that stabilize Axin to lower liver fat and scarring for people with NASH.
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.