Understanding how liver failure happens and how key transcription factors could restore liver function
Official title: Dissecting functional decompensation of end-stage liver disease and the mechanism and impact of transcription factors on long-term functional reprogramming
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11447691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to understand why end-stage liver disease worsens and whether fixing certain transcription factors can help the liver regain function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $814,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145577-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with end-stage liver disease or cirrhosis who could benefit from therapies targeting transcription factor pathways.
✕Less likely to help
People without liver disease or those not suitable for experimental therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies end-stage liver disease and the role of transcription factors in driving its progression. It focuses on how liver cells lose their normal function and whether reactivating key factors, like HNF4α, can reprogram cells to improve liver health. The team will use human-relevant models and molecular techniques to map changes in gene expression and test potential therapeutic strategies that could reduce the need for transplant in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new drug targets that improve liver function and potentially delay or prevent the need for a transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Prior findings suggest that modifying transcription factors like HNF4α can improve liver function in disease models, supporting potential benefit.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hainer, Sarah Jane — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Hainer, Sarah Jane
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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.