# Multiparametric ultrasound imaging for early detection of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS · 2022 · $401,747

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Liver disease is increasing in numbers and relevance across the globe. This disease causes no noticeable
symptoms in many cases. After diagnosis, the costs associated with medical care are very high. Patients can be
characterized on the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) spectrum based on the progressive presence of
steatosis (i.e. abnormal accumulation of fat within the liver), inflammation, ballooning, and then hepatic fibrosis.
Despite the rapid growth and prevalence, the only therapy to treat NAFLD are lifestyle modifications, such as
diet and exercise. While the pharmaceutical industry is actively pursuing the discovery and development of
candidate drug therapies to address this unmet medical need, there is an urgent clinical need for the ability to
noninvasively detect, accurately stage, and reliably monitor NAFLD. To that end, the goal of this research project
is to develop a system and method for multiparametric ultrasound (mpUS) imaging of nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease (NAFLD) including early pathology progression. Our preliminary findings strongly suggest that a single
mpUS test that combines steatosis, ballooning, and inflammation information has the potential to provide a
comprehensive estimation of the main components of early stage NAFLD. The main innovation of the proposed
research project lies in the implicit link between biophysical models of NAFLD with these coordinated mpUS
measurements. The first objective of this project is to develop an integrated ultrasound system and method for
performing mpUS imaging. Then we will optimize this new imaging system in healthy rat liver. Lastly, we will
evaluate mpUS imaging with a rat model of NAFLD that mirrors disease progression in humans. Here we will
also optimize a biophysical model and longitudinal performance in the decision of NAFLD progression. If
successful, this research will introduce and validate a safe, cost-effective mpUS imaging technology that can
noninvasively detect, accurately stage, and reliably monitor NAFLD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10320337
- **Project number:** 5R01DK126833-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DALLAS
- **Principal Investigator:** Kenneth Hoyt
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $401,747
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-12-21 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10320337

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10320337, Multiparametric ultrasound imaging for early detection of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (5R01DK126833-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10320337. Licensed CC0.

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