Understanding the role of TREM2 in liver disease progression.
Official title: Dissecting the Intracellular and Extracellular Role of TREM2 in the Pathogenesis of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11128281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called TREM2 affects the liver condition known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to help understand why some people with fatty liver get worse while others don’t, with the hope of finding new ways to treat NASH.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $661,236 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK137061-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
✕Less likely to help
Patients with liver diseases caused by alcohol consumption or other non-metabolic factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how TREM2, a receptor found on immune cells, influences the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious liver condition. By studying both the intracellular and extracellular functions of TREM2, the researchers aim to uncover why some individuals with fatty liver progress to NASH while others do not. The study involves analyzing serum levels of a soluble form of TREM2 and its effects on inflammation and liver health. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatment strategies for NASH.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and preventing its progression to liver cancer.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of TREM2 in liver disease is being explored, this specific approach to understanding its protective mechanisms in NASH is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhar, Debanjan — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Dhar, Debanjan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Role of metabolic stress in NASH-related liver cancer
This grant explores how metabolic stress linked to NASH may drive liver cancer and looks for ways to interrupt that process to help patients.
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TREM2: a helper in liver inflammation and scarring in NASH
A new approach studies how a liver immune receptor called TREM2 helps protect against liver inflammation and scarring in people with fatty liver disease that can progress to NASH.
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Genes behind fatty liver disease and NASH
This project looks at how specific genes change fatty liver disease and scarring to help guide better tests and treatments for people with NAFLD/NASH.
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Ex-vivo bioengineered liver cells to study NASH-related dysfunction
Researchers will use patient-derived stem cell–made liver cells in a lab setup to understand why NASH causes liver damage and how stiffness of the liver’s surroundings affects this process.
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How TREM2 on immune cells affects fatty liver disease (NASH)
This project looks at whether the immune protein TREM2 helps drive liver inflammation and scarring in people with NASH.
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New small-molecule medicines that stabilize Axin to treat non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Trying new small-molecule drugs that stabilize Axin to lower liver fat and scarring for people with NASH.
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.