Understanding Liver Scarring in Cholestatic Diseases
Official title: The Role of Portal Fibroblasts in Cholestatic Liver Fibrosis
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11116851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how specific cells cause liver scarring in conditions like primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2014 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $486,640 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK101737-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is for patients interested in the underlying causes of cholestatic liver diseases like primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention will not benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Cholestatic liver fibrosis, a severe outcome of chronic liver diseases such as primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), involves extensive scarring from cells called activated hepatic stellate cells and portal fibroblasts. This project focuses on understanding the specific role of portal fibroblasts in this scarring process, particularly how certain signals contribute to their activation. Researchers are using specialized mouse models to observe how these signals affect liver scarring over time. The goal is to uncover the unique ways these cells become active and contribute to fibrosis, including exploring different molecular pathways, to shed light on the complex interactions that drive liver damage in these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat liver scarring in patients with cholestatic liver diseases.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds upon existing knowledge about liver fibrosis and cell signaling, but the specific mechanisms and signaling pathways being explored are novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kisseleva, Tatiana — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Kisseleva, Tatiana
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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.