# BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award

> **NIH VA IK6** · RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · —

## Abstract

AIMS: The goal of this application is to apply for Research Career Scientist (RCS) Award and to support Dr.
Heather Francis’ VA research program.
NOMINEE: The candidate, Dr. Heather Francis, is the Scientific Director of the inaugural Indiana Center for Liver
Research (ICLR) at Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis as well as a full Professor of
Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Indiana
University. Dr. Francis recently assumed this position in January of 2019 and continues her VA funded work in
Indianapolis. Prior to moving to Indiana, Dr. Francis was a Research Biologist at Central Texas Veteran’s Health
Care System in Temple, Texas and she has had continuous VA funding since 2012 with the inception of a VA
Career Development Award which she transitioned into a BLRD VA Merit Award in 2016. Dr. Francis’ area of
interest and expertise lies in the pathophysiology of cholangiocyte (bile duct cells) biology and Dr. Francis has
been trained and mentored by a world-renowned expert, Dr. Gianfranco Alpini (2007 – 2015). Dr. Francis has
become a leader in the field of hepatic mast cells and their contribution to liver diseases and also how mast cells
interact with resident liver cells, including cholangiocytes and hepatic stellate cells. Currently, Dr. Francis holds
a BLRD VA Merit (resubmitted and scored, June 2019) and two NIH NIDDK R01 awards (role: PI on both). She
serves as a permanent member on the NIH NIDDK Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (2018- 2023)
and is on the editorial board of Hepatology, Laboratory Investigation and PLoSOne. Dr. Francis has been an
active mentor since 2011 and continues to serve on graduate student committees, train post-doctoral fellows
and develop collaborations with clinical partners. In addition, since 2012, Dr. Francis has maintained a number
of collaborations with VA funded investigators that has resulted in numerous publications.
IMPACT: Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a long-term progressive disease of the liver and gallbladder
characterized by inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts which normally allow bile to drain from the
gallbladder. Patients who suffer from PSC may be asymptomatic or suffer from a myriad of symptoms such as
jaundice, itching and abdominal pain. In addition, most patients with PSC (upwards of 75%) also suffer from
inflammatory bowel diseases like Ulcerative Colitis, thus complicating their treatment strategies. The risks of
PSC include increased incidences of CCA, but also colorectal cancer and gallbladder carcinoma are found in
more patients with PSC then without. The causes of PSC are not fully known; however, some studies point to
genetic links, malfunctioning immune systems and a dysregulation of the gut microbiota. Treatment options for
patients with PSC are severely limited. There is a sub-population of patients who get relief from treatment with
the bile acid, ursodeoxycholate; however...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10454100
- **Project number:** 5IK6BX005226-03
- **Recipient organization:** RLR VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Heather L Francis
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10454100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10454100, BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award (5IK6BX005226-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10454100. Licensed CC0.

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