Understanding how liver cells respond to bile acid injury in children with cholestatic liver diseases
Official title: The Unfolded Protein Response in Murine and Pediatric Cholestatic Liver Diseases
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11056716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how children's livers react to certain injuries caused by bile acids, especially in kids with cholestatic liver diseases like biliary atresia, to find out why they often have more serious liver problems than adults, with the hope of discovering new treatments that could help reduce the need for liver transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $162,920 |
| NIH project number | 5K08DK132456-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 21 years old diagnosed with cholestatic liver diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver diseases not related to cholestasis or those over 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the liver's response to bile acid-induced injury in children suffering from cholestatic liver diseases, such as biliary atresia. It focuses on the unfolded protein response (UPR), a protective mechanism that helps liver cells cope with stress. By studying the differences in UPR activation between young and adult mice, the research aims to uncover why children experience more severe liver injury. The ultimate goal is to identify specific pathways that can be targeted for developing new treatments to reduce the need for liver transplants in pediatric patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel therapies that improve liver health in children and reduce the need for liver transplants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the UPR in adult liver diseases, but this specific focus on pediatric cholestatic liver diseases is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kriegermeier, Alyssa — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Kriegermeier, Alyssa
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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.