# Technical Validation of MR Biomarkers of Obesity-Associated NAFLD

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $741,152

## Abstract

!
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This application's broad, long-term objective is to improve the health of millions of Americans with or at risk for obesity-
associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common chronic liver disease in the United States. After
successfully validating MR imaging biomarkers for hepatic steatosis, the earliest histologic feature of NAFLD, in the first
cycle of this grant, this competitive renewal focuses on hepatic fibrosis and inflammation, features of non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis (NASH), the aggressive subtype of NAFLD that can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver-related
death. MR elastography (MRE), a noninvasive method to quantify tissue stiffness, is the leading imaging-based technique
for assessing liver fibrosis in NAFLD, but the true diagnostic performance of MRE for detecting fibrosis and NASH
cross-sectionally, and for monitoring their change longitudinally, is incompletely understood. By optimizing
and rigorously evaluating MRE for these purposes, we will address major knowledge and technical gaps that have
obscured the appropriate utilization of this technology in clinical care and research. Aim 1: Optimize MRE wavefield
generation in severe obesity, applicable to both conventional 2D- and advanced 3D-MRE. Aim 2: Characterize the
precision profile of conventional 2D- and advanced 3D-MRE in severe obesity (same-day repeatability, field-strength
reproducibility, reader reproducibility, between-day reproducibility). Aim 3: Determine the accuracy of conventional 2D-
and advanced 3D-MRE in severe obesity to a) diagnose fibrosis and NASH cross-sectionally and b) monitor change in
fibrosis and resolution of NASH longitudinally. Significance: By determining the true diagnostic performance of
conventional 2D- and advanced 3D-MRE for detecting and monitoring fibrosis and NASH in bariatric patients, the
proposed research will inform the appropriate utilization of MRE for clinical care, clinical trials, and other research in
obesity-associated NAFLD. Additionally, if the research confirms the promise of advanced 3D-MRE to detect early-stage
NASH, this will represent a game-changing new technical capability. Innovation: This application brings innovation in
three thematic areas: (1) Study design: prospective cross-sectional and longitudinal study in bariatric patients, a
technically challenging population with balanced disease severity distribution ideal for addressing the scientific aims. (2)
Wavefield generation: testing of new flexible drivers designed to generate high-quality wavefields. (3) MRE analysis:
rigorous testing of advanced 3D-MRE reconstruction and analysis methods that in preliminary animal and human studies
show promise for diagnosing early-stage NASH. Research design & methods: Phase 1 of this 2-site study will optimize
MRE wavefield generation in severe obesity by identifying the driver type and position that maximize MRE precision.
Using that optimal driver type/position, Phase 2 wi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986744
- **Project number:** 5R01DK088925-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Scott B. Reeder
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $741,152
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-09-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986744

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986744, Technical Validation of MR Biomarkers of Obesity-Associated NAFLD (5R01DK088925-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986744. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*