# 3D quantification of NASH-related liver fibrosis using open-top light-sheet microscopy

> **NIH NIH R43** · ALPENGLOW BIOSCIENCES, INC. · 2021 · $269,351

## Abstract

Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevalence is estimated at >25% in the U.S., making
it the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the
progressive form of NAFLD, affects 1-3% of the U.S. population and is expected to double by
2030. Currently, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for NAFLD, but there are numerous
promising drug candidates being evaluated in clinical trials. However, the primary endpoint for
these trials, histologic fibrosis, has shortcomings including sampling error and use of a
subjective five category scale to quantify a continuous variable. Our team has pioneered the use
of 3D open-top light-sheet (OTLS) microscopy, which enables rapid, high-throughput imaging of
large clinical samples. In combination with cutting-edge machine learning techniques, we
hypothesize that 3D OTLS microscopy can provide more accurate and consistent assessment
of fibrosis in liver biopsies from NASH patients. We will test this hypothesis by developing a
multiplex staining protocol and machine learning analysis pipeline, which will be piloted on 20
archived FFPE liver biopsies. Results from our assay will be correlated with currently used
primary and secondary outcome measures to motivate further studies with sing archived
samples from clinical trials with responsivity and outcomes data.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10325461
- **Project number:** 1R43DK130751-01
- **Recipient organization:** ALPENGLOW BIOSCIENCES, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicholas Reder
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $269,351
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-20 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10325461

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10325461, 3D quantification of NASH-related liver fibrosis using open-top light-sheet microscopy (1R43DK130751-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10325461. Licensed CC0.

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