Which patients' cirrhosis is likely to get worse and whether statins help
Official title: Evaluating risk factors for cirrhosis progression and response to statin therapy among a cohort of patients with cirrhosis
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11168816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether statin medicines help people with compensated cirrhosis and which health factors make cirrhosis get worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $388,501 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK130185-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with compensated cirrhosis of varied causes (including alcohol-related disease, NASH, or HIV co-infection) who are not yet decompensated and can attend clinic follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
People with decompensated cirrhosis, active severe liver failure, children, or those with medical contraindications to statins are unlikely to benefit from this effort.
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this project follows people with compensated cirrhosis from different causes (alcohol-related liver disease, NASH, prior viral hepatitis, and HIV co-infection) to track who progresses to decompensation. Researchers will collect clinical data, labs, medication use, and outcomes over time and compare people who take statins with those who do not. The study aims to identify risk factors that predict faster decline and to determine the safety and potential protective effect of statins in a U.S. cohort. Participation will likely involve clinic visits and review of medical records.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could show that statins safely slow cirrhosis progression and reduce the risk of serious liver complications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational and retrospective studies suggest statins may lower complications of cirrhosis, but prospective or randomized evidence in compensated cirrhosis remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goldberg, David Seth — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Goldberg, David Seth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how risk factors affect progression of cirrhosis and response to statins in patients with cirrhosis
This project follows people with cirrhosis to see what factors speed up their liver disease and whether statin medicines help prevent worsening.
-
Identifying risk factors for cirrhosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
This study is looking at how your genes and medical records can help figure out which people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are more likely to develop serious liver damage, so we can find better ways to help those at higher risk.
-
IOP and CSF Pressure in Glaucoma Risk
This grant studies how eye pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure together influence glaucoma risk and vision loss.
-
ALS risk factors in a long-term ALS study
A long-term ALS study is looking at which factors may influence disease risk and progression in people living with ALS.
-
Understanding how work exposures and genes influence ALS risk
A study is building a long-term group of people at higher risk for ALS to see how their jobs, exposures at work, and genes together affect if and when the disease might develop.
-
P-CARRS-BRAIN: Predicting Alzheimer’s risk in South Asians in India using genetic, behavior, and vascular data
Aims to predict Alzheimer’s disease risk in middle-aged South Asians by combining genetic, lifestyle, and vascular information to catch early changes before dementia develops.
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.