Understanding how liver lymphatics affect alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: Hepatic lymphatics in alcohol-associated liver disease
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10930904 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking too much alcohol affects the lymphatic system in the liver and whether a new treatment could help improve symptoms for people with severe alcoholic hepatitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $244,151 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AA031400-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930904 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with severe alcoholic hepatitis or those with alcohol-associated liver disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have alcohol-associated liver disease or severe alcoholic hepatitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of hepatic lymphatics in the progression of alcoholic hepatitis, a severe condition resulting from alcohol-associated liver disease. The study aims to understand how chronic alcohol consumption may impair the function of liver lymphatics, which are crucial for managing inflammation. Researchers will explore whether enhancing lymphatic drainage through a specific treatment could serve as a new therapeutic strategy for patients suffering from severe alcoholic hepatitis. By examining the potential of a novel treatment involving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, the study seeks to provide insights that could lead to improved management of this serious condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that significantly improve outcomes for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of enhancing lymphatic function in alcoholic hepatitis is novel, similar strategies targeting inflammation in other liver diseases have shown promise in previous research.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwakiri, Yasuko — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Iwakiri, Yasuko
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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.