# Development and Testing of an Integrated Care Coordination Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery after Liver Transplantation

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $197,640

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Rates of alcohol use disorder and alcohol associated liver disease requiring liver transplantation continue
to rapidly rise. Return to alcohol use after liver transplant is associated with increased rates of liver transplant
failure and mortality, but there is no evidence-based integrated intervention to address alcohol use disorder in
liver transplant recipients. The goal of this K23 award application submitted by a liver transplant surgeon is to
address a critical gap in knowledge and care for liver transplant recipients with concurrent alcohol use disorder
by developing and pilot testing an integrated liver transplant and alcohol recovery program (ILTARP) consisting
of an integrated community health worker supporting post-transplant alcohol relapse prevention, outreach, and
care coordination. To address this knowledge gap, I propose three research aims. Aim 1 is to co-develop the
ILTARP intervention with stakeholder and expert input though an iterative process of evidence gathering and
stakeholder panels. Aim 2 will conduct a pilot feasibility study of the newly developed ILTARP intervention
testing feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of ILTARP in the liver transplant clinical setting
through a randomized control pilot trial (n=40). Aim 3 will assess barriers and facilitators of the ILTARP
intervention through an integrated mixed methods approach to prepare the intervention for a future R01
application for a fully powered multisite Hybrid Type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial.
 My long-term goal is to be an independently funded researcher developing, testing and implementing
interventions in solid organ transplantation integrating care of complex co-occurring health conditions. The
research aims directly inform my three training goals: Goal 1 to gain advanced knowledge in alcohol use
disorder treatment and addictions research; Goal 2 to acquire skills in intervention development and
randomized trials of multi-component interventions; and Goal 3 to develop expertise applying implementation
research frameworks and evaluating implementation outcomes through the use of mixed methods. The training
plan includes guided reading, mentored research projects, monthly seminars, and selected coursework,
planned research manuscripts, and frequent mentor meetings to review progress. The research project, the
research environment, and the exceptional multidisciplinary mentorship team (Drs. Bartels, Kelly, Aschbrenner)
and consultants (Drs. Cameron, Wakeman, Cheng) are ideally suited to my career development.
 Overall, this career development award will provide the opportunity for me to acquire the necessary
research skills to advance my career goal to become a leading expert in intervention development and
implementation research in solid organ transplantation integrating care of complex co-occurring health
conditions. This formative work has the potential to result in a paradigm shift in liver transplant centers acro...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912818
- **Project number:** 5K23AA031068-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Leigh Anne Dageforde
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $197,640
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912818

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912818, Development and Testing of an Integrated Care Coordination Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery after Liver Transplantation (5K23AA031068-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-31 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912818. Licensed CC0.

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