Understanding how human hepatic stellate cells drive liver fibrosis in alcohol-related disease
Official title: Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11397378 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies human liver cells to find the genes and chromatin changes that cause fibrosis in alcohol-related liver disease, to pave the way for future treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | December 31, 1998 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,640 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA011999-28 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397378 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcoholic liver disease or related liver conditions who are available to donate liver tissue at transplantation centers.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or those not contributing tissue samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study liver tissue from patients with alcohol-related liver disease (AALD) and compare it to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal livers using advanced single-cell and chromatin assays. They will look at hepatic stellate cells, which are key players in liver scarring, to identify gene expression and chromatin patterns that specifically drive fibrosis in AALD. The work uses donated human liver tissue from people whose livers were declined for transplantation, focusing on meaningful differences between diseases at the cellular level. Findings could point to targets for therapies that prevent or reverse fibrosis in affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new molecular targets to treat or prevent liver fibrosis in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that hepatic stellate cells and chromatin changes influence liver fibrosis, but this project clarifies human-specific patterns in AALD and related diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kisseleva, Tatiana — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Kisseleva, Tatiana
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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.