Understanding Ubiquitin D for Liver and Kidney Diseases
Official title: Ubiquitin D as a potential therapeutic target for NASH, HCC and chronic kidney diseases
Funded at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute · NIH-11176365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at a protein called Ubiquitin D to find new ways to help people with liver conditions like NASH and HCC, and also chronic kidney disease.
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 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $500,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133930-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or chronic kidney disease could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without these specific liver or kidney conditions would likely not receive direct benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are serious liver conditions, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often occurs alongside them. Currently, there are no approved treatments for NASH, and these conditions together can increase the risk of heart problems. Researchers have found a protein called Ubiquitin D (UBD) that is present in high amounts in the livers of people with NASH and HCC, and in the kidneys of those with CKD. This project aims to understand how UBD contributes to these diseases and whether blocking its activity could offer a new treatment approach. By studying UBD, we hope to develop therapies that can improve both liver and kidney health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new medications that target Ubiquitin D to treat NASH, HCC, and chronic kidney disease, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing related cardiovascular risks.
How similar studies have gone: While UBD's precise role in these specific diseases is being clarified, previous work has linked UBD to disease progression and metabolic health in animal models, suggesting a promising target.
Where this research is happening
-
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
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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.