# Clinical Research on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $1,034,705

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) at Columbia University
and its subcontracted sites at the University of California, San Diego have played a major role
over the past 16 years in furthering the understanding of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children
and adults. Given that NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States and
that known outcomes include cirrhosis, liver transplant and liver cancer, it is imperative that we
develop better noninvasive measures to diagnose with more severe or progressive forms of
NAFLD and that we find improved therapies with unique and rational targets. The proposal in this
limited competition renewal for our Clinical Center demonstrates the progress made in longitudinal
database studies and significant findings in past and current/ongoing randomized clinical trials in
adults and children. Our Center and the Network describe plans for completion and continued
development of clinical trials, for finding novel bio-imaging methods to assess response to
therapy, to define and evaluate the performance of imaging as a noninvasive marker that
might be used as a surrogate for certain features of NAFLD/NASH and as a means of
tracking disease progression and to complete and develop ancillary studies for understanding
the role of genetic and environmental factors in modulating the course of disease. In this regard,
we lead studies in developing proteomic reagents as predictive and diagnostic markers for
NAFLD; in elucidating the role of the gut microbiome, the role of nuclear hormone receptors, and
the role of genetic variants in pediatric NAFLD. We intend to continue to play leading roles in the
NASH CRN, as the PI is Co-Chair of the Steering Committee and Database Committee, a member
of the Executive Committee, and Chair of the Pediatric Committee. Our Centers’ leading role in
enrollment, along with our leadership in recruitment and retention of adults, children and minorities
in the NASH CRN are expected to continue through completion of current trials and initiation of
newly proposed studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10240488
- **Project number:** 5U01DK061734-21
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** ROHIT LOOMBA
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,034,705
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2002-09-15 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10240488

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10240488, Clinical Research on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (5U01DK061734-21). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10240488. Licensed CC0.

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