Why liver cancer goes up with age and how to detect it earlier
Core A: Administrative
Scientists are using lab models and computer analyses to find signs of age-related liver cancer so older adults and people at risk can get earlier screening and prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160728 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program brings together experts in cancer and aging who use mouse models, tissue studies, and bioinformatics to find molecular changes that make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) more common with age. Teams will search for candidate early-detection markers and prevention strategies using experimental models and analysis of human-relevant data. An administrative core coordinates the projects and shared facilities to speed collaboration and reproducibility. The effort aims to move promising findings toward tests or interventions that could be used in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most likely to be relevant are older adults and patients with known liver disease risk factors such as cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B or C, or fatty liver disease.
Not a fit: Patients without liver disease or those with advanced, symptomatic HCC are unlikely to see direct or immediate benefit from this administrative/core-focused program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of liver cancer and new ways to prevent HCC in older adults or high-risk patients.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has identified some candidate biomarkers and age-related mechanisms, but reliably translating those findings into clinical early-detection tests remains mostly unproven.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Peter D. — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Adams, Peter D.
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 below.