# Mechanisms of Advanced NAFLD Disparities in Hispanics:  A Multi-level Analysis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2021 · $683,885

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) leading to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a major cause of
chronic liver disease that may progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Considering the
prevalence, particularly among Hispanics, understanding the etiology and mechanisms of this disease by
race/ethnicity is imperative. We have established a multidisciplinary team to comprehensively characterize the
dynamic interplay of multiple factors (genetics, lifestyle, environmental and immune factors) in NAFLD/NASH
and the underlying mechanisms driving incidence, severity and progression that result in health disparities in
Hispanics. We will identify factors associated with NAFLD development and progression in Hispanics and non-
Hispanic whites (NHW) in Los Angeles County (LAC). The large immigrant populations in LAC offer unique
perspectives and opportunities to examine health disparities in Hispanics. We will enroll 2,000 patients (1,000
Hispanics and 1,000 NHW) with FibroScan-confirmed advanced (>F2) and mild (≤F1) hepatic fibrosis and 1,000
matched controls without ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD recruited from the LAC and USC Keck Hospitals.
We will collect biological specimens, clinical and detailed questionnaire data for sociodemographic and risk
factors and use geospatial approaches to ascertain social and neighborhood-related factors. Case groups will
be followed prospectively for disease progression. Our specific aims are 1) to determine the contribution of
lifestyle, clinical, social/environmental factors and genetics (nuclear and mitochondrial) to ethnic disparities in
NAFLD risk, disease severity (advanced/mild fibrosis) in Hispanics and NHW; 2) to examine how differential
gene expression revealed by scRNA-transcriptomic profiling of circulating innate immune cells in NAFLD varies
according to polygenic risk scores and dietary factors; utilize bioinformatics approach to identify plasma proteins
with diagnostic and predictive accuracy for NAFLD severity and progression; 3) to identify high-risk groups for
NAFLD risk and progression by integrating genetics, lifestyle, clinical, social and contextual factors in Hispanics
and NHW using an innovative latent variable analysis. Our study will culminate in novel, comprehensive, and
innovative characterization of multi-level factors associated with phenotypic spectrum of NAFLD and disease
progression and contribute significantly to the understanding of the etiology and mechanisms that influence
disparities in NAFLD in high-risk Hispanic population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10155155
- **Project number:** 1R01MD015971-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** HUGO Ramon ROSEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $683,885
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-01-01 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10155155

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10155155, Mechanisms of Advanced NAFLD Disparities in Hispanics:  A Multi-level Analysis (1R01MD015971-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10155155. Licensed CC0.

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