Vagus nerve therapy to reduce liver inflammation in alcohol-related liver disease
Official title: Vagus nerve and cholinergic anti-inflammation in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11450698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers team is testing whether stimulating the vagus nerve can lower liver inflammation and damage in people or animals with alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,966 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA032837-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with alcohol-associated liver disease who may benefit from interventions that modulate inflammation, or who are being evaluated for therapies that affect the nervous-immune system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with ALD who have advanced liver failure or contraindications to nerve stimulation may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores whether activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway via vagus nerve stimulation can protect the liver from alcohol-related injury. Building on animal studies and existing FDA-approved uses of vagus nerve stimulation, the researchers will investigate its effect on inflammatory signals and liver enzymes linked to ALD. The study will examine how nerve-driven immune regulation impacts liver damage and inflammation, with measurements including ALT and inflammatory markers. If successful, this approach could offer a new avenue to treat ALD by modulating the body's nervous-immune axis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a novel, non-drug approach to reduce liver inflammation and damage in ALD, potentially delaying progression to severe disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies showed reduced liver inflammation with vagus nerve stimulation, supporting further investigation in ALD.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jia, Lin — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Jia, Lin
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.