# Detection and Staging of Liver Fibrosis by Precise MRI (pMRI)

> **NIH NIH R42** · INLIGHTA BIOSCIENCES, LLC · 2020 · $666,670

## Abstract

Abstract
Chronic liver injury due to alcohol, metabolic dysfunction, viral hepatitis, or autoimmune disease results in liver
inflammation and fibrosis. Liver fibrosis will progress to cirrhosis which is estimated to affect 1–2% of the world’s
population. The major clinical consequences of cirrhosis are liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),
both of which increase the risk of death. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of liver disease and
liver-related deaths globally, particularly in developed nations. The current gold standard diagnostic method,
liver biopsy, has many limitations including sampling error and high inter-observer variability with a 33% error
rate even for the diagnosis of advanced stages of liver fibrosis. In addition, liver biopsy is an invasive, painful
and expensive procedure with the risk of complications involving hospitalization and mortality. Liver biopsy is
therefore of limited use for screening or monitoring disease progression. None of several technologies
investigated offers the desired sensitivity and specificity for the detection or staging of fibrosis. The novel contrast
agent developed in our laboratory, ProCA32.Collagen1, combined with innovative processing techniques made
possible by this agent, promise to significantly enhance the precision of MRI in diagnosing and monitoring liver
fibrosis. We have successfully met all of the proposed aims and milestones for Phase I to obtain proof-of-principle
evidence to achieve early detection of liver fibrosis with significantly improved sensitivity and selectivity. We have
demonstrated that ProCA32.Collagen detects in vivo liver fibrosis in mouse models. In this Phase II project, we
will optimize affinity for collagen binding and biodistribution and validate in vivo capability in the early detection
and staging of liver fibrosis. We will obtain essential data required for filing IND applications leading to clinical
translation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971410
- **Project number:** 5R42AA025863-04
- **Recipient organization:** INLIGHTA BIOSCIENCES, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jenny J. Yang
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $666,670
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-25 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971410

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971410, Detection and Staging of Liver Fibrosis by Precise MRI (pMRI) (5R42AA025863-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971410. Licensed CC0.

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