Assessing functional health in patients awaiting liver transplants
Official title: Functional Assessment in Liver Transplant Candidates (FrAILT) Study
Run by University of California, San Francisco · NCT03228290 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is trying to see how frailty and overall health affect people waiting for liver transplants by tracking their physical and mental abilities over a year.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 12 sites (Little Rock, Arkansas and 11 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 12, 2011 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | July 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT03228290 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who are being treated for liver disease.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are not being treated for liver disease or are under 18 years old may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study focuses on patients with end-stage liver disease, evaluating their frailty, functional status, and disability through comprehensive geriatric assessments. Participants will undergo cognitive function tests, quality of life questionnaires, and various physical performance measures at baseline and during regular clinic visits leading up to and following their liver transplant. The study aims to gather extensive data on the multi-dimensional aspects of frailty and its impact on transplant outcomes over a 12-month period post-surgery. Additionally, biological samples will be collected from a subgroup of patients to further investigate the relationship between frailty and liver health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the understanding of frailty in liver transplant candidates, potentially leading to improved patient selection and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown success in assessing frailty and functional status in transplant populations, indicating that this approach is supported by prior research.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult (≥18 years old) * Are seen for the treatment of liver disease
Where it's running
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting -
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Columbia University
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Show 6 more locations
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Baylor Scott & White Health
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting -
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting -
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States Completed -
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California, United States Completed -
Indiana University
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Active not recruiting -
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Completed
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer C Lai, MD, MBA — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Jennifer C Lai, MD, MBA
- Email: jennifer.lai@ucsf.edu
- Phone: (415) 476-6422
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Even protein distribution plus exercise for people awaiting liver transplant
This trial tests whether spreading daily protein evenly and combining it with a 12-week exercise program improves nutrition, muscle mass, and function in people waiting for a liver transplant compared with uneven protein timing or usual advice.
-
Preoperative Carbohydrate Loading Before Liver Transplant
This study tests whether drinking a carbohydrate beverage before anesthesia helps liver transplant patients recover faster.
-
Frailty, Nutrition, and Recovery in People Waiting for a Liver Transplant
This project will test whether measures of frailty, muscle loss, nutrition, and psychological health can predict outcomes for adults (18–65) on the liver transplant waiting list in Turkey.
-
Train the immune system to accept a living-donor liver so you may stop lifelong anti-rejection drugs
This test gives donor stem cells plus a short conditioning treatment to people with HLA-matched living-donor liver transplants to see if they can safely stop long-term immunosuppressive drugs.
-
Using Siplizumab to prevent immune issues in liver transplant patients with autoimmune liver disease
This study is testing if a new medication called siplizumab can help prevent immune problems in adults with autoimmune liver disease who are getting a liver transplant.
-
Observational study on liver transplantation using hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion
This study looks at how well a new method of preserving livers with a special machine helps patients who are getting liver transplants at the Medical University of Vienna.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.