# Role of a Novel Methyltransferase in Liver Lipid Metabolism

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $170,532

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This proposal details a career training plan for Dr. Alexander Nguyen, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at
UCLA, to become an independent academic physician-scientist in the field of liver lipid metabolism. Dr. Nguyen
received his M.D./Ph.D. degrees from the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D.
program and completed Internal Medicine residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at UCLA. During his
fellowship, Dr. Nguyen initiated mentored post-doctoral research advised by Dr. Peter Tontonoz at UCLA. Dr.
Tontonoz is an internationally recognized expert in the control of gene expression by lipids and the role of nuclear
hormone receptors in lipid metabolism. Dr. Tontonoz has served as mentor to numerous trainees, many of whom
have become successful academic investigators. Under this award, Dr. Nguyen will be supported by Dr.
Tontonoz as well as his co-mentor and advisory team whose scientific expertise and mentorship will facilitate his
career development. Dr. Nguyen will have the resources and expertise available to allow for the development
his own independent scientific career. Dr. Nguyen will have access to courses, seminars, and core facilities
through UCLA School of Medicine and the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
The described research proposal seeks to reveal the role of a novel LXR target gene, a poorly characterized
methyltransferase, in liver lipid homeostasis. Preliminary studies demonstrate that this gene functions to prevent
lipid accumulation in the liver when mice are fed a lipid-rich diet. Aim 1 will focus on the molecular and physiologic
transcription regulation of this gene. In Aim 2, the function of this gene in the liver and physiology will be
determined. In Aim 3, the hypothesis that this gene suppresses the development of steatohepatitis will be tested.
These studies will uncover a novel function of this gene in the regulation of cellular and systemic lipid
homeostasis and implicate pathways through which non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops. Through
this award, Dr. Nguyen will develop the training necessary to become an independent physician-scientist
investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10881085
- **Project number:** 1K08DK136706-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Alexander Nguyen
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $170,532
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-10 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10881085

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10881085, Role of a Novel Methyltransferase in Liver Lipid Metabolism (1K08DK136706-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10881085. Licensed CC0.

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