Why advanced fatty liver disease affects Hispanic communities more
Official title: Mechanisms of Advanced NAFLD Disparities in Hispanics: A Multi-level Analysis
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11238464 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares genetic, lifestyle, environmental, and immune factors in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adults in Los Angeles to understand what leads to advanced fatty liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $765,068 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD015971-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11238464 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults in Los Angeles County (Hispanic or non-Hispanic white) who either have FibroScan- or ultrasound-confirmed fatty liver with known fibrosis stage or who are matched controls without NAFLD.
✕Less likely to help
People who live outside the Los Angeles area, are of other racial/ethnic groups not included in the study, or whose liver disease is primarily alcohol-related may not benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
I would be asked to join a large study in Los Angeles that enrolls people with and without fatty liver disease and collects blood and tissue samples, health records, and questionnaire information. Researchers will use FibroScan and ultrasound to classify liver fibrosis and will map neighborhood and environmental factors where participants live. The team will compare 1,000 Hispanic and 1,000 non-Hispanic white patients with varying fibrosis levels plus 1,000 matched controls and follow case groups over time to see who progresses. The study combines genetics, lifestyle, immune measures, and geospatial data to find why disease rates and severity differ by race/ethnicity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal causes of higher NAFLD severity in Hispanic people and point to earlier detection or tailored prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked genetics and lifestyle to NAFLD risk, but this large, multi-level prospective study focused on Hispanic disparities is broader and less common.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Setiawan, Veronica Wendy — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Setiawan, Veronica Wendy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Lipid signals that control acetyl-CoA and fat metabolism in NAFLD
A study exploring how membrane lipids influence acetyl-CoA metabolism to understand and potentially treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
-
Long-term study of NAFLD progression and gut bacteria in diverse groups
We’re following people over time to see how the gut microbiome and diet relate to fatty liver disease progression in diverse racial/ethnic groups.
-
Genetic and environmental risk for fatty liver cancer in Latinos (GENIAL)
A study to understand why Latino people with fatty liver disease might be more likely to develop liver cancer and to use genetic and environmental clues to predict who is at higher risk.
-
Toxic fats, vitamin B12 loss, and AHR may drive fatty liver disease
This grant looks at how certain environmental chemicals may trigger liver damage linked to fatty liver disease and how a vitamin found in the blood could be affected.
-
Role of cholesterol metabolism in toxin-driven liver disease
This grant explores how a liver toxin called TCDD affects cholesterol and fatty liver disease, and how a key enzyme (HMGCR) might change that risk in adults.
-
Small blood particle signals and fatty liver in children and teens
Researchers are looking at whether molecules carried in tiny blood particles can explain or signal fatty liver disease in children and adolescents with excess weight.
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.