Why non-alcoholic fatty liver disease turns into liver cancer or other serious problems
Novel Determinants for Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Other Health Outcomes
The team will look for biological and environmental factors in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that make the condition progress to liver cancer or end-stage liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178421 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed over time alongside other adults with fatty liver disease and researchers will compare those whose condition worsens to those who remain stable. The study will analyze blood and liver samples, bile acids, immune markers, and gut microbial metabolites and may use lab models to test how these factors change liver immunity and scarring. Investigators are especially interested in how an immune-permissive liver environment, environmental toxins, and microbial products drive progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, or cancer. Results are intended to point to tests or targets that could predict or prevent serious outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, particularly those with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without NAFLD, those whose liver disease is mainly due to alcohol, or anyone seeking an immediate treatment effect are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier blood tests to find high-risk patients and new targets to prevent or treat liver cancer from fatty liver disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has linked fibrosis and some microbiome changes to higher liver cancer risk, but this combined focus on immune tolerance, environmental toxins, and gut metabolites is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yuan, Jian-Min — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Yuan, Jian-Min
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.