# Identification of Biomarkers and Novel Pathways of Alcoholic Liver Disease by Leveraging Metabolomics, Tissue Imaging Mass Spectrometry, and Integrative Machine Learning

> **NIH NIH R21** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $150,625

## Abstract

Abstract
The
induces
flu-like
treatment
health,
1,919,430
societal
people
COVID-19.
disease
means
infected
extremely
ventilators,
SARS-CoV-2 . We propose to identify alterations in
the plasma metabolome of patients experiencing different levels of severity of COVID-19. Such changes
should be pivotal in allowing the prediction of the severity of the patient COVID-19 symptoms and also provide
mechanistic information about the disease and its progression. In addition to our expertise in metabolomics, we
are able to carry out this project because we have access to samples from the Yale New Haven Hospital
System via the IMPACT Biorepository. This repository stores human specimens related to emerging
respiratory viral infections (with a particular focus on COVID-19) in order to support research on factors related
to viral expression, transmission, disease severity, progression, and susceptibility. The directors of the
biorepository are co-investigators in this supplement. As such, we are in unique position to perform this novel
research because we have: (a) the infrastructure to conduct the metabolomic analyses and we have already
developed the methodologies, (b) access to COVID-19 patient plasma samples stored at the IMPACT
(Implementing medical and public health actions against coronavirus in Connecticut) Biorepository (and
associated patient records), (c) assembled an extraordinary team that includes expertise in metabolomics,
virology, pulmonary and infectious disease, and immunology.
of this supplement
current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is of major concern because (i) it is highly contagious, (ii) it
a spectrum of adverse health consequences (collectively known as COVID-19) that range from mild
symptoms (fever, chills, cough) to life-endangering pneumonia and SARS, and (iii) there is no effective
or vaccine to prevent it. To date, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had devastating effects on public
with an international mortality rate of 5.8% in infected individuals. As of June 6, 2020, the U.S. has
cases and a mortality rate of 5.7%. Measures taken to stem the pandemic have paralyzed normal
 activities and crippled national and international economies. I n the early stages of the pandemic, older
and individuals with specific underlying medical conditions were shown to be more vulnerable to
More recently, it has become apparent that younger, ostensibly healthy individuals likely carry the
 and may succumb/progress to the more serious manifestations of COVID-19. Currently, there is no
to reliably predict the severity of COVID-19 symptoms (or the course of COVID-19) in individuals
by SARS-CoV-2 . This represents a significant knowledge deficit. Having such information would be
helpful in triaging patients and allowing more efficient utilization of limited health resources, e.g.,
ICU beds, and medical personnel. N
or that are associated with the various stages of COVID-19
o studies have investigated metabolic alterations caused by

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10221329
- **Project number:** 3R21AA028432-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** VASILIS VASILIOU
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $150,625
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-04-10 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10221329

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10221329, Identification of Biomarkers and Novel Pathways of Alcoholic Liver Disease by Leveraging Metabolomics, Tissue Imaging Mass Spectrometry, and Integrative Machine Learning (3R21AA028432-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10221329. Licensed CC0.

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