Understanding what signals tell the liver to regrow after injury
Official title: Defining the molecular signals that drive liver regeneration
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11448774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how the liver senses injury and triggers its own repair, aiming to improve recovery for people with acute liver failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $518,779 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145857-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people at risk of acute liver failure or with severe liver injury where regeneration could be enhanced.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without liver injury or those not eligible for liver regeneration therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
The research looks at how liver cells communicate after injury and what controls the production of growth signals needed for regeneration. It uses an ex vivo system to study hepatic stellate cells and their role in bringing back liver function. The goal is to uncover targets that could enhance liver healing and reduce the need for transplantation. Results could lead to safer, non-surgical options to help people recover from severe liver damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new approaches that boost liver healing and cut the risk of death from acute liver failure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that growth factors and liver cell signaling can influence regeneration, suggesting this approach has a plausible path forward.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knouse, Kristin a — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Knouse, Kristin a
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.