NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

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.

More Cirrhosis research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Southern California
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Project startDecember 31, 1998
Project endApril 30, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$170,640
NIH project number5P50AA011999-28
Project IDNIH-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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.