Understanding Liver Cell Signals in Injury and Scarring

Deciphering Epithelial Signals in the Liver to Drive Inflammation and Fibrosis

NIH-funded research Yale University · NIH-11116959

This research aims to understand how specific signals within liver cells contribute to liver injury and scarring, hoping to find new ways to help patients with liver disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionYale University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New Haven, United States)
Project IDNIH-11116959 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Our goal is to learn how certain signals, called Yap/Taz/Cyr61, affect how the liver repairs itself after both sudden and long-term damage. We want to see how these signals change other important liver cells and activate pathways that lead to scarring. By understanding these detailed interactions and decisions made by liver cells, we hope to develop new, more targeted treatments for conditions like cirrhosis.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is for future patients who experience acute or chronic liver injury, fibrosis, or cirrhosis.

Not a fit: Patients will not receive direct, immediate benefit from this basic science research, as it focuses on understanding disease mechanisms.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new medical therapies that specifically target the processes causing liver scarring and its complications.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team and others suggests that Yap and Taz play important roles in liver injury responses, providing a foundation for this more detailed investigation.

Where this research is happening

New Haven, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.