Liver Disease clinical trials at University of California Health

50 in progress, 27 open to eligible people

Showing trials for

  • Atezolizumab, With or Without Bevacizumab, in Participants With Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Child-Pugh B7 and B8 Cirrhosis

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    The purpose of this study is to assess the safety of atezolizumab and bevacizumab, or atezolizumab alone, as first-line treatment in participants with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with Child-Pugh B7 or B8 cirrhosis.

    at UC Davis UC Irvine UCLA UCSD

  • NST-6179 in Subjects With Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease (IFALD).

    open to eligible people ages 16 years and up

    This is a phase 2a, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of NST-6179 in subjects with intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). The study will be conducted in 2 sequential parts. Up to 36 subjects diagnosed with IFALD will be enrolled in the study, of which up to 18 subjects will be enrolled in each of the 2 parts and randomized (2:1) to receive NST-6179 (N=12/part) or matched placebo (N=6/part). Subjects in Part A will receive once daily (QD) oral administration of 800 mg (32 mL solution) NST-6179 or placebo for 4 weeks. The NST-6179 dose for Part B is planned to be 1200 mg QD for 12 weeks. Actual dose, however, will be determined during the safety review meeting.

    at UCSF

  • Vimseltinib in Adults With Active Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease (cGVHD)

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    The purpose of this study is to determine if vimseltinib is safe, tolerable and works effectively to treat adults with active moderate to severe cGVHD. Participants will be treated with vimseltinib in 28-day treatment cycles for approximately 2 years.

    at UCLA

  • ECUR-506 in Male Babies Less Than 9 Months of Age With Neonatal Onset OTC Deficiency

    open to eligible males ages up to 7 months

    Ornithine Transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, the most common urea cycle disorder, is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by a genetic defect in a liver enzyme responsible for detoxification of ammonia. Individuals with OTC deficiency can build-up excess levels of ammonia in their blood, potentially resulting in devastating consequences, including cumulative and irreversible neurological damage, coma and death. The severe form of the condition emerges shortly after birth and is more common in boys than girls. This is a Phase 1/2/3, open-label, multicenter, safety, efficacy, and dose finding study of ECUR-506 in male babies with neonatal onset OTC deficiency. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of up to three dose levels of ECUR-506 following intravenous (IV) administration of a single dose.

    at UCLA

  • Bicalutamide Therapy in Young Women With NAFLD and PCOS

    open to eligible females ages 18-42

    Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or fat-related liver inflammation and scarring is projected to be the leading cause of cirrhosis in the United States (U.S.) within the next few years. Women are at disproportionate risk for NASH, with approximately 15 million U.S. women affected. There is an urgent need to understand risk factors for NASH and its progression in women, and sex hormones may provide a missing link. This study will study the contribution of androgens to liver injury and progression in PCOS and mechanistic role of dysregulated lipid metabolism and visceral adiposity in this process. Such findings will provide the rationale for future efficacy studies evaluating selective androgen receptor (AR) antagonism for NASH in PCOS, or alternatively, the need to directly target visceral adiposity or lipid-specific pathways as part of a precision medicine approach to halt fibrosis progression in the nearly 5 million young women with PCOS and NAFLD in the U.S., who remain at increased risk for early onset and progressive liver disease.

    at UCSF

  • CM for Patients With ALD After Liver Transplant

    open to eligible people ages 18-99

    Alcohol associated liver disease (ALD) refers to liver injury, such as cirrhosis, that is caused by alcohol use. It affects 2 million adults in the U.S. and is now the leading cause of cirrhosis-related hospitalizations, cirrhosis- related deaths, and liver transplantation. Alcohol use disorder (AUD), the root cause of ALD, affects 15 million Americans each year. While research studies have shown that behavioral therapy and medications specific for alcohol use have helped people overcome their alcohol use disorder, there has not been enough information related to how successful these treatments are specifically for people with ALD. This study will look at a behavioral treatment called "contingency management" (CM) that has shown to be effective with people with other substance use disorders. CM is based on the principles of operant conditioning that involves offering prize-based or monetary incentives to patients with substance use disorders to reduce substance use. This study will look at the efficacy and acceptability of CM in patients who received a liver transplant and have evidence of recurrent alcohol use. The proposed study is a pilot randomized controlled trial of 30 patients with ALD who received a liver transplant; 15 will be randomized to receive a 10-week CM intervention while 15 will receive treatment as usual (TAU or control). Subjects will be asked to complete 12 study visits (including Screening and Baseline Visits) that will last 1 to 2 hours each depending on the visit. All visits will be completed via Zoom or by phone. Study staff will instruct participants on how to use Zoom, if necessary. During the Screening and Baseline Visits, subjects will be: 1) asked to provide a urine test and blood draw, 2) complete the SCID-5 AUD, a semi-structured interview guide for making the major DSM-5 diagnoses, 3) complete the Iowa Gambling Test which looks at decision-making skills, 4) complete a survey that looks at the subject's quality of life after liver transplant, 4) review how much alcohol the subject has consumed in the last 30 days, 5) and if the subject has received any current AUD treatments. Once the Screening and Baseline visits are completed, subjects will be randomized to either the CM group or the TAU group. During the weekly visits, subjects will be asked to provide blood and urine samples and will be asked if they have had any alcohol since their last visit. All subjects will receive $20 for completing the visits. For those in the CM group, subjects will also receive a CM reward for negative urine and/or blood tests, depending on which results we receive first-with rewards ranging from $5 to $80 depending on the week. Additionally, during weeks 1, 5, and 10, those in the CM group will also complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 to assess client satisfaction with CM and complete a semi-structured interview about the CM protocol as well as CM acceptability and feasibility.

    at UCLA

  • VS-01 in Adult Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure and Ascites (UNVEIL-IT)®

    open to eligible people ages 18-79

    A Phase 2, multi-center, randomized, controlled, open-label study to evaluate the effects of the intraperitoneal, liposomal formulation VS-01 in patients with an acute episode of hepatic and/or extrahepatic organ dysfunctions and failures in the presence of liver cirrhosis (Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure, ACLF) and accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites)

    at UC Davis

  • Elucidating Shared Mechanisms Contributing to NAFLD and PsA Disease Severity With Guselkumab Therapy

    open to all eligible people

    While many studies examine Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), little is known about its progression to high-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in PsA patients. Shared disease mechanisms may explain the increased severity in PsA. This study involves two visits from PsA patients with NAFLD and active disease signs (e.g., swollen joint, enthesitis, or psoriatic plaque). It aims to assess the impact of biological therapies on liver disorders, joints, and skin in PsA patients.

    at UCSD

  • Food Insecurity and MASLD: A Fruit and Vegetable Intervention Study

    open to eligible people ages 6-17

    This proposal addresses a critical gap in the understanding of the impact of household food insecurity (FI) on pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) severity. Evidence from adult studies links household FI to MASLD and liver fibrosis, and prior research of the PI has shown that exposure to household FI in early childhood was associated with a nearly fourfold increased odds of pediatric MASLD in middle childhood. Possible mechanisms linking household FI to pediatric MASLD include lower intake of fruits and vegetables, higher intake of caloric dense nutrient-poor foods (e.g., sugar-sweetened beverages), and less diversity of foods. Given consensus recommendations for the management of MASLD focus on lifestyle modification, i.e., diet and exercise to achieve weight loss, this proposal seeks to assess whether a clinic-based fruit/vegetable voucher intervention program (EatSF) could potentially improve clinical outcomes for children/adolescents with MASLD and household FI. Study participants include children/adolescents with household FI and MASLD who are receiving care at UCSF's liver clinic and Weight Management for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Clinic, a pediatric subspecialty clinic. The study seeks to identify barriers and facilitators to fruit/vegetable voucher redemption, and assess changes in dietary intake, MASLD severity, and other cardiometabolic health factors in children participating in the pilot intervention. Study findings will form the basis of an R01 application to conduct a fully powered randomized controlled trial of the intervention.

    at UCSF

  • Liver Cirrhosis Network Rosuvastatin Efficacy and Safety for Cirrhosis in the United States

    open to eligible people ages 18-75

    This is a double-blind, phase 2 study to evaluate safety and efficacy of rosuvastatin in comparison to placebo after 2 years in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

    at UCSD UCSF

  • NeuroFLiPP: Parametric PET of Neuroinflammation in Fatty Liver Disease

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect about 6 million people in the U.S. and are the fifth leading cause of death for adults over 65. Recent research is investigating how chronic liver diseases like Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), which affects one-third of the U.S. population, might influence ADRD through the liver-brain axis. MASLD shares risk factors with Alzheimer's, such as diabetes and hypertension, and studies have linked MASLD to increased risks of cognitive decline and ADRD. Mouse-model studies suggest that chronic liver inflammation in MASLD can induce neuroinflammation and accelerate Alzheimer's pathology, highlighting the importance of studying the liver-brain connection to identify new therapeutic targets for ADRD. The goal of this research is to develop a practical PET imaging method using 18F-FDG to simultaneously assess liver and brain inflammation in patients with MASLD-related ADRD. This approach leverages dynamic FDG-PET scanning and advanced tracer kinetic modeling to quantify glucose transport, overcoming limitations of traditional imaging methods that cannot noninvasively assess chronic liver inflammation. The new method aims to enable comprehensive imaging of liver-brain inflammation crosstalk, validated against the 18F-DPA-714 radiotracer. Success in this project could provide a valuable imaging tool for linking liver inflammation with neuroinflammation and cognitive decline, advancing clinical research and potentially uncovering new pathways for ADRD treatment

    at UC Davis

  • Radioembolization Trial Utilizing Eye90 Microspheres™ for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

    open to eligible people ages 18-99

    This is a prospective, multi-center, open-label study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Eye90 microspheres® in the treatment of subjects with unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Eye90 microspheres is a medical device containing yttrium-90 (Y-90), a radioactive material, and provides local radiation brachytherapy for the treatment of liver tumors.

    at UC Irvine

  • Semaglutide Treatment in the Real-world for Fibrosis Due to NAFLD in Obesity and T2DM

    open to eligible people ages 40-79

    Conduct a community intervention study that will 1) validate a screening approach to identify patients at risk for advanced NAFLD in the obese or T2DM population, and 2) test whether semaglutide treatment is effective for the management of significant fibrosis due to NAFLD in high-risk patients.

    at UCSD

  • Check the Safety of Fazirsiran and Learn if Fazirsiran Can Help People With Liver Disease and Scarring (Fibrosis) Due to an Abnormal Version of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Protein

    open to eligible people ages 18-75

    The main aim of this study is to learn if fazirsiran reduces liver scarring (fibrosis) compared to placebo. Other aims are to learn if fazirsiran slows down the disease worsening in the liver, to get information on how fazirsiran affects the body (called pharmacodynamics), to learn if fazirsiran reduces other liver injury (inflammation) and the abnormal Z-AAT protein in the liver, to get information on how the body processes fazirsiran (called pharmacokinetics), to test how well fazirsiran works compared with a placebo in improving measures of liver scarring including imaging and liver biomarkers (substances in the blood that the body normally makes and help show if liver function is improving, staying the same, or getting worse) as well as to check for side effects in participants treated with fazirsiran compared with those who received placebo. Participants will either receive fazirsiran or placebo. Liver biopsies, a way of collecting a small tissue sample from the liver, will be taken twice during this study.

    at UCLA UCSD UCSF

  • Learn About the Safety of Fazirsiran and if it Can Help People With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Liver Disease With Mild Liver Scarring (Fibrosis)

    open to eligible people ages 18-75

    The liver produces a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). AAT is normally released into the bloodstream. In some people, the liver makes an abnormal version of the AAT protein, called Z-AAT. Making an abnormal version of the AAT protein can result in liver disease as Z-AAT builds up in liver cells, which leads to liver problems such as liver scarring (fibrosis), continuing liver damage (cirrhosis), and eventually end stage liver disease. Fazirsiran is a medicine that reduces the creation of the Z-AAT protein and thus the build-up of this abnormal protein in the liver. People with this type of liver disease who already have mild liver scarring will take part in the study. They will be treated with fazirsiran or a placebo for about 2 years. This study will check the long-term safety of fazirsiran, whether participants tolerate the treatment and if there are any effects on liver scarring. A liver biopsy, a way of collecting a small tissue sample from the liver, will be taken twice during the study.

    at UCLA UCSF

  • Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and Lifestyle Modification for the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

    open to eligible people ages 30-70

    Participants meeting study entry criteria are randomized with equal probability to one of two study groups: (1) Lifestyle modification or (2) Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) with Iifestyle modification, followed for 12 months. The primary goal for the trial is to determine if the investigators can recruit, randomize, and retain participants to perform invasive and non-invasive measurements of NASH and fibrosis, deliver lifestyle modification and demonstrate the safety of VSG. The investigators wish to also understand which of these two interventions is more effective in achieving, 12 months after entry into the trial, a reduction in NAS composed of the non-weighted scores: (1) steatosis 0-3 (2) Inflammation 0-3 and (3) ballooning 0-2. Secondary goals include comparing the two treatment groups for changes in other measured outcomes including MRI assessments of intrahepatic triglyceride and liver elasticity and serum markers. As a pilot study, a sample size of 20 in each group should offer significant information as to the difference in NAS score reduction between to two groups and achieve adequate power to distinguish clinically significant changes in the primary and secondary outcome measures. These data support the overarching objective i.e. to provide evidence that a larger, longer-term clinical outcomes trial is feasible. A goal is for a longer term follow up for 5 years to assess the durability of treatment effects and treatment differences.

    at UCSF

  • Androgens and NAFLD Longitudinal Cohort Study

    open to eligible females ages 18-42

    The researchers want to learn how androgens, a type of sex hormone, might affect nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) in young women over time. NAFLD happens when fat builds up in the liver which can cause damage to the liver such as inflammation or scarring. Young women with a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a high risk for NAFLD, and they often have high androgen levels too. So the researchers are recruiting young women with PCOS as well as those without PCOS, and will compare changes in NAFLD over time between young women with and without PCOS. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health

    at UCSF

  • DILIN - Prospective Study

    open to eligible people ages 2 years and up

    The purpose of this study is to identify individuals who have suffered a liver injury arising as an idiosyncratic reaction to a prescription drug or a complementary and alternative medicine. Recently added acute cases enrollment that meets criteria to the protocol. Also added Fibroscans to the protocol that will be completed at baseline and follow-up on chronic subjects.

    at UCLA

  • Functional Assessment in Liver Transplantation

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    This will be a prospective cohort study of patients with liver disease. Subjects will undergo geriatric assessments of frailty, functional status, and disability using functional status measures at baseline and at every clinic visit in the pre-transplant setting. Subjects will also answer questions regarding quality of life, personality, and/or cognitive function. Subjects will again undergo assessments at every clinic visit through 12 months after transplant. Then, they will be followed annually.

    at UCSF

  • Hyperpolarized Pyruvate (13C) Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Patients With Fatty Liver Disease

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    The recent development of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technology for hyperpolarized (HP) 13C imaging offers a promising new avenue for non-invasively accessing fundamental metabolic changes associated with the progression of fatty liver disease in vivo. The purpose of this pilot study is to optimize sequence parameters for hyperpolarized 13C acquisition in the human liver and determine which metabolic changes can be seen in humans with simple, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when compared to healthy volunteers.

    at UCSF

  • Liver Cirrhosis Network Cohort Study

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    Liver Cirrhosis Network (LCN) Cohort Study is an observational study designed to identify risk factors and develop prediction models for risk of decompensation in adults with liver cirrhosis. LCN Cohort Study involves multiple institutions and an anticipated 1200 participants. Enrolled participants will have study visits every 6 months (180 days), with opportunities to complete specific visit components via telehealth or remotely. Visits will include collection of questionnaire data and the in-person visits will include questionnaires, physical exams, imaging, and sample collection.

    at UCSD UCSF

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in HIV Database

    open to eligible people ages 18 years and up

    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver conditions associated with fat accumulation that ranges from benign, non-progressive liver fat accumulation to severe liver injury, cirrhosis, and liver failure. The spectrum of NAFLD encompasses simple nonalcoholic steatosis (nonalcoholic fatty liver [NAFL]) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in which there is evidence of hepatocellular injury and/or fibrosis. NAFLD is the most common liver disease in adults and the second leading cause for liver transplantation in the U.S. The natural history of NAFLD in the general population has been well described. The NASH Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) was established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in 2002 to further the understanding of the diagnosis, mechanisms, progression and therapies of NASH. This effort has resulted in numerous seminal studies in the field. However, NASH CRN studies have systematically excluded persons living with HIV (PLWH) , as NAFLD in PLWH was thought to be different from that in the general population due to HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART), concomitant medications and co-infections. This resulted in major knowledge gaps regarding NAFLD in the setting of HIV infection. Thus, the natural history of NAFLD in PLWH is largely unknown. The goal of this ancillary study of NAFLD and NASH in Adults with HIV (HIV NASH CRN), is to conduct a prospective, observational, multicenter study of NAFLD in PLWH (HIV-associated NAFLD).

    at UCSD UCSF

  • Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Food Insecurity

    open to eligible people ages 6-17

    This proposal addresses a critical gap in our understanding of the impact of household food insecurity (FI) on pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) severity. There is evidence that children in families that do not have the ability to provide consistently healthy and high-quality foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have worse diet quality that children in households that are food secure. Additionally, evidence from adult studies link household FI to MASLD and liver fibrosis, and prior research of the PI has shown that exposure to household FI in early childhood was associated with a nearly 4 times increased odds of pediatric MASLD in middle childhood. Possible mechanisms linking household FI to pediatric MASLD include lower intake of fruits and vegetables, higher intake of caloric dense nutrient poor foods (e.g., sugar sweetened beverages), and less diversity of foods. Given consensus recommendations for the management of MASLD focus on lifestyle modification, i.e., diet and exercise to achieve weight loss, this proposal seeks to explore the association of household FI and pediatric MASLD disease severity and whether those effects are mediated by dietary intake. Study participants include children/adolescents with MASLD who are receiving care at UCSF's liver clinic and Weight Management for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Clinic, a pediatric subspecialty clinic.

    at UCSF

  • Quantitative Ultrasound to Assess Steatotic Liver Disease in Children

    open to eligible people ages 9-18

    This research study is being conducted to find out more about advanced ultrasound techniques to non-invasively evaluate liver disease in children. The investigators are developing advanced techniques for analyzing ultrasound data and images of the liver, and they will compare it to other established methods used to evaluate the liver, including liver MRI. The investigators plan to develop and test the advanced analysis techniques using conventional full-size ultrasound machines and, if possible, small handheld devices. Our goals are: - To assess the accuracy of the advanced ultrasound analysis techniques in children - To implement and assess these advanced technique on small handheld ultrasound devices, if possible

    at UCSD

  • Occurrence of EFAD in Pediatric Patients With PNAC Who Require More Than Eight Weeks of Omegaven Treatment

    open to eligible people ages up to 17 years

    This study will demonstrate safety in pediatric patients with Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Cholestasis treated with Omegaven®, which is indicated as a source of calories and fatty acids in this patient population

    at UCLA

  • Social & Contextual Impact on Children Undergoing Liver Transplantation

    open to eligible people ages up to 70 years

    The social determinants of health have a large impact on health. For example, neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation is associated with increased risk of medication non-adherence, graft failure, and death in children after liver transplant. In order to address these socioeconomic inequities in outcomes, a more granular understanding of how the social determinants of health impact outcomes is needed. In this observational prospective cohort, caregivers of children undergoing liver transplantation will complete surveys and undergo in-depth, qualitative interviews. The survey will assess comprehensively for the social determinants of health (e.g. material economic hardship, health literacy, social connectedness, primary care quality, etc). The qualitative interviews will identify barriers and facilitators that socioeconomically deprived children/families have to obtaining the ideal outcome and identify health system opportunities to integrate social needs and medical care. Data will be linked to an existing prospective cohort study (The Society for Pediatric Liver Transplant registry) to assess the impact of social risk on outcomes after transplant. Healthcare providers who take care of children undergoing liver transplant will also be included in the qualitative interviews. The goal of including this group in the study is to determine the health systems barriers and facilitators to social needs screening and intervention.

    at UCSF

  • Metabolic Responses to Bariatric Surgery

    “Using tissue samples to better understand the metabolism and genetics of obesity”

    open to eligible people ages 18-55

    Research the genetic and biomechanical markers of human adipose tissue on patients with morbid obesity. Additional tissue/fluid collection is also gathered during the time of surgery.

    at UC Davis

  • Master Protocol of Multiple Agents in Adults With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (SYNERGY-Outcomes)

    Sorry, not yet accepting patients

    The main purpose of the SYNERGY-OUTCOMES study is to find out whether retatrutide and tirzepatide can prevent major adverse liver outcomes (MALO) in people with high-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The study will enroll adults who have MASLD based on non-invasive tests (NITs), which indicate they are more likely to develop MALO. Participants will be randomly assigned within a Master Protocol to receive either retatrutide (N1T-MC-RT01), tirzepatide (N1T-MC-TZ01) or placebo. The trial plans to enroll about 4,500 adults and will run for approximately 224 weeks. Participants may have up to approximately 25 to 30 clinic visits throughout the study to monitor their health, complete study procedures, and assess liver function and disease progression. Once the study is complete, eligible participants may participate in an optional 2-year extension study, in which all participants will receive either retatrutide or tirzepatide, even if they received placebo in the main study.

    at UCSD

  • MGL-3196 (Resmetirom) in Patients With NASH and Fibrosis

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    A double-blind placebo controlled randomized Phase 3 study to determine if 80 or 100 mg of MGL-3196 as compared with placebo resolves NASH and/or reduces fibrosis on liver biopsy and prevents progression to cirrhosis and/or advanced liver disease

    at UCSD

  • HM15211(Efocipegtrutide) in Subjects

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    This study is a phase 2 study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of HM15211 Treatment for 12 Months in Subjects with Biopsy Confirmed NASH

    at UC Davis UCSD

  • Two Different Doses of Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor Subcutaneous (Human) 15% in Participants With Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of 72 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and 180 mg/kg Alpha-1 15%, administered as a single-dose subcutaneous (SC) infusion and subsequently as weekly SC infusions over 8 weeks in participants with Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD).

    at UCLA

  • Alcoholic Liver Disease and the Gut Microbiome

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    Background: Significant sex differences exist in regard to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). To date, no studies have examined the brain-gut-microbiome (BGM) axis (which is the relationship between the gut, brain, and the bacteria within the gut) and sex-differences in AUD and ALD. Aims: 1) Demonstrate baseline sex differences in the microbiome and metatranscriptome of AUD and ALD and correlate those differences to severity, 2) determine if these baseline sex differences predicts abstinence or ALD related outcomes, and 3) show how altering the microbiome can decrease the severity of AUD and ALD in a sexdependent manner. Hypothesis: Our project is aimed to explore the hypothesis that sex-related differences of the BGM axis in AUD and ALD explains the variation in patient severity and outcome by sex, and that alterations of the BGM axis can decrease the severity of AUD and ALD in a sex-dependent manner. Methods: A pilot randomized placebo (VSL#3 vs placebo) control trial will be performed in patients with AUD and ALD for 6 months. Questionnaire data, clinical labs, serum, and feces for shotgun metagenomics will be collected at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months. Anticipated Results: Patients with severe AUD/ALD will have more microbes and microbial genes associated with inflammation. These differences will predict outcomes at 6-months and that changes of this baseline microbiome with VSL#3 will lead to more positive outcomes than placebo, with men having greater benefit from VSL#3 than women. Implications and Future Studies: The discovery of the mechanisms underlying sex-related differences in AUD/ALD is needed for the development of personalized recommendations for prevention and treatment in men and women

    at UCLA

  • Learn About the Long-Term Safety of Fazirsiran and if Fazirsiran Can Help People With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Liver Disease

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    The main aim of this study is to learn if fazirsiran is safe during long-term use in people with liver disease caused by the abnormal Z-alpha-1 antitrypsin (Z-AAT) protein. People who have taken part in previous fazirsiran studies (AROAAT2001 [NCT03945292] or AROAAT2002 [NCT03946449]) can continue to receive fazirsiran every 3 months as long as they participate in this study, the study is ongoing or until health authorities in their country approve fazirsiran to be publicly available. The study may also provide information on whether fazirsiran has a long-term effect in reducing liver fibrosis or slowing down the progression of liver fibrosis in people with liver disease due to the abnormal Z-AAT protein.

    at UCSD

  • Angiotensin 2 for AKI After OLT

    Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only

    Kidney injury is a common complication following liver transplantation and is associated with a higher complication rate and increased risk of death. While there are many factors that likely contribute to kidney injury in the perioperative period, a relative low serum level of angiotensin 2 (Ang 2) (a protein hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow) found in patients with liver cirrhosis (late stage of liver damage) may increase their risk of developing acute kidney injury (sudden episode of kidney failure or damage). We propose to investigate how early administration of Ang 2, a new vasopressor drug approved by the FDA in December 2017 for patients with low blood pressure, during the intra-operative period of liver transplant surgery affects the rate of kidney injury after transplantation. Patients who are deemed appropriate candidates for the study will be randomized 1:1 to the treatment and control groups. The intervention period of the study will occur in the operating room during transplant surgery and will be performed by their anesthesiologists. In the Treatment group, patients will receive Ang 2 infusions in addition to other standard vasopressors while patients in the control group will receive standard vasopressors alone. The infusion of Ang 2 in the treatment group will continue through the duration of the surgery and will be stopped prior to leaving the operating room. Both the treatment group and the control group will then be followed for 14 days to evaluate rates of kidney injury and to look for any complications. The follow up period will be extended to 28 days to look at in-hospital mortality rates in both groups. The daily follow up analysis will occur while the enrolled patients are inpatient following their transplantation surgery and will be done by looking at lab values and other data that is routinely gathered by their managing teams. This study will serve as a pilot study to evaluate feasibility of our protocol and to collect some preliminary data on the use of Ang 2 in this patient population. As such we plan to enroll approximately 30 patients who have accepted an offer to receive a donor liver. We hope to reach our goal enrollment within 5 months of starting the study.

    at UCLA

  • Comparing Ascites Relief In Two Standard Treatments: Large Volume Paracentesis Vs. Early Tips Using Viatorr Controlled Expansion Stents

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    For this study, the investigators will be collecting data based on patients' random selection to two different approved standard of care treatments for ascites: Subjects will get randomized into either Group A: Large Volume Paracentesis (LVP) with albumin infusion, or Group B: an early transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure.

    at UCLA

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Impact on Alcohol-related Liver Disease Patient Outcomes, Care and Alcohol Use

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    The study consists of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and feasibility of a stepped alcohol treatment using telemedicine on unhealthy alcohol use in patients with chronic liver disease receiving care in hepatology practices at three sites. Patients who meet eligibility criteria will be randomized to one of two study arms: 1) Stepped Alcohol Treatment (SAT) or, 2) Usual Care (UC). Participants will be randomized separately by site. SAT includes 3 sessions of motivational interviewing followed by referral to addiction medicine for patients who do not reduce unhealthy drinking. Trial outcome measures will be complete at 6 and 12 months following baseline enrollment.

    at UCSF

  • Whether Semaglutide Works in People With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

    “Volunteer for research and contribute to discoveries that may improve health care for you, your family, and your community!”

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    Semaglutide is a medicine studied in patients with NASH. Semaglutide is a well-known medicine, which is already used by doctors to treat type 2 diabetes in many countries. Participants will either get semaglutide or a dummy medicine - which treatment participants get is decided by chance. Participants will need to inject themselves with medicine under the skin. Participants will need to do this once a week. The study will last for about 5 years. Participants will have up to 21 clinic visits and 9 phone calls with the clinical staff during the study. Some of the clinic visits may be spread over more than one day. Participants with other chronic liver diseases cannot take part in this study. Women cannot take part in the study if they are pregnant, breast-feeding or plan to become pregnant during the study period.

    at UC Davis UCSD UCSF

  • Food Referrals for Equity and Sustained Health

    Sorry, not yet accepting patients

    Food insecurity (FI) disproportionately affects those who have been historically marginalized and significantly contributes to poor health outcomes. In children, FI is associated with lower psychosocial functioning and academic achievement. It also contributes to the development of adverse health outcomes such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). Improving the diet quality of children (e.g., decreasing fat intake, increasing fruits and vegetables (FV) and fiber intake) has been associated with lower fasting serum glucose, insulin, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and reduced risk of CVD later in life. Increasing awareness and access to programs that promote food equity by providing affordable healthy produce is a promising way to improve health outcomes and empower patients and communities to achieve better health and well-being. The goal of this proposal is to refine and optimize implementation strategies that connect families to community-based food security nutrition support programs through health care systems or medical clinics. The investigators will develop a multi-disciplinary, cross-sector collaboration to optimize current processes and workflows that integrate food security nutrition support programs into the healthcare system. The investigators will also work to develop a closed-loop communication system between the healthcare and healthy food access systems to support greater patient autonomy and self-efficacy to obtain, prepare, and consume healthy foods.

    at UCSD

  • Integrating Metabolic and Vascular Sensors to Monitor Cardiometabolic Disorders After Nutrition Interventions

    Sorry, not yet accepting patients

    It is a 12-week study. The participants will follow three different diets, and during each diet period, and the participants will wear our device, and blood samples will be collected.

    at UCLA

  • Belapectin for the Prevention of Esophageal Varices in NASH Cirrhosis

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    This seamless, adaptive, two-stage, Phase 2b/3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-groups, placebo-controlled study will assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of belapectin compared with placebo in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis and clinical signs of portal hypertension but without esophageal varices at baseline.

    at UCSD

  • TheraSphere With Durvalumab and Tremelimumab for HCC

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    The objective of the ROWAN clinical study is to assess the efficacy of local tumor control in HCC patients who receive TheraSphere followed by durvalumab and tremelimumab.

    at UCSD UCSF

  • Maralixibat Expanded Access Program for Patients With Cholestatic Pruritus Associated With Alagille Syndrome (ALGS)

    Sorry, not accepting new patients

    An open-label, single-arm, multi-centre program providing treatment access to ALGS patients with cholestatic pruritus in the US. Access can be requested through Clinigen Healthcare Ltd via email MirumALGS@clinigengroup.com or telephone +1-877-768-4303.

    at UCLA UCSF

  • Database of Infants With Cholestasis

    Sorry, not currently recruiting here

    Biliary atresia, idiopathic neonatal hepatitis, and specific genetic cholestatic conditions are the most common causes of jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia that continue beyond the newborn period. The long term goal of the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) is to establish a database of clinical information and plasma, serum, and tissue samples from cholestatic children to facilitate research and to perform clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic trials in these important pediatric liver diseases.

    at UCSF

  • Accurate Point of Care Liver Disease Diagnostics

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    This research study is being conducted to find out more about techniques to non-invasively evaluate liver disease. The investigators are testing a new technology to evaluate the liver (LiverScope®), and they will compare it to other methods to evaluate the liver, including advanced conventional liver MR and liver FibroScan® ultrasound exams. MR exams and FibroScan® ultrasound exams are common exams used to monitor NAFLD. Conventional MR scanners use magnetic fields and radio waves to make pictures of the liver. LiverScope® is a small, portable MR-based device that uses similar, but simplified technology, and can be used on top of an exam table in an outpatient setting. LiverScope® currently is not approved for clinical use. In this study the investigators will learn how LiverScope® measurements of the liver compare to MR. Study participants will be asked to complete a one-time visit which includes: - LiverScope exam - MR exam - FibroScan exam (optional) - Blood draw - Completion of study questionnaires

    at UCSD

  • FAST (Focused Abbreviated Screening Technique)-MRI Study

    Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only

    The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic value of a reconstructed abbreviated Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) from a full clinical exam, compared to ultrasound (US) for screening of liver cancer. Blood markers will be evaluated to determine their correlation to imaging. This study will help to determine whether abbreviated MRI is superior to ultrasound for diagnosis of liver cancer.

    at UCSD

  • Longitudinal Study of Genetic Causes of Intrahepatic Cholestasis (LOGIC)

    Sorry, currently not accepting new patients, but might later

    Cholestasis is a condition in which bile is not properly transported from the liver to the small intestine. Cholestasis can be caused by an array of childhood diseases, including the genetic diseases Alagille syndrome (ALGS), alpha-1 antitrypsin (a-1AT) deficiency, bile acid synthesis and metabolism defects, and progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) or benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis(BRIC). This study will investigate the natural history and progression of the four previously mentioned cholestatic liver diseases to provide a better understanding of the causes and effects of the diseases.

    at UCSF

  • Longitudinal Study of Mitochondrial Hepatopathies

    Sorry, currently not accepting new patients, but might later

    The specific aims of this study are (1) to determine the clinical phenotypes and natural history of hepatic RC and FAO disorders, (2) to determine the correlation between genotype and phenotype, (3) to determine if circulating biomarkers reflect diagnosis and predict liver disease progression and survival with the native liver, (4) to determine the clinical outcome of these disorders following liver transplantation, and (5) to develop a repository of serum, plasma, urine, tissue and DNA specimens that will be used in ancillary studies. To accomplish these aims, the ChiLDREN investigators at clinical sites (currently 15 sites) will prospectively collect defined data and specimens in a uniform fashion at fixed intervals in a relatively large number of subjects. Clinical information and DNA samples to be collected from subjects and their parents will enhance the potential for meaningful research in these disorders. A biobank of subject specimens and DNA samples will be established for use in ancillary studies to be performed in addition to this study.

    at UCSF

  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Parametric PET (FLiPP) Study

    “Comparison of imaging techniques used to evaluate patients with liver disease”

    Sorry, in progress, not accepting new patients

    The goal of this study is to evaluate non-invasive imaging techniques for determining liver steatosis (fat), inflammation (abnormal tissue swelling), and fibrosis (abnormal tissue scarring).In addition, the study group will be using other test measures including personal demographics, laboratory blood test results, and imaging measurements to determine the severity of NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), inflammation, and fibrosis.

    at UC Davis

  • Prevalence and Predictors of Hepatic Steatosis in Persons Living With HIV

    Sorry, not currently recruiting here

    Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver conditions associated with fat accumulation that ranges from benign, non-progressive liver fat accumulation to severe liver injury, cirrhosis, and liver failure. NAFLD is the most common liver disease in US adults and the second leading cause for liver transplantation in the US. The natural history of NAFLD in the general population has been well described, with those with non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL, or simple steatosis) destined to have rare incidence of hepatic events compared to those with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), who are at high risk for future development of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. The NASH Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) was established by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in 2002, through the mechanism of RFA-DK-01-025, to further the understanding of diagnosis, mechanisms, progression and therapies of NASH. The NASH CRN effort has resulted in numerous seminal studies in the field. However, NASH CRN studies have systematically excluded persons living with HIV (PLWH), as NAFLD in these persons was thought to be different from that in the general population due to HIV, ART, concomitant medications, and co-infections. This has resulted in major knowledge gaps regarding NAFLD in the setting of HIV. This ancillary study of NAFLD and NASH in Adults with HIV (HIV NASH CRN), HNC 001 goal is to examine the prevalence of hepatic steatosis and NAFLD in a large, multicenter, and multiethnic cohort of PLWH (Steatosis in HIV Study)

    at UCSD UCSF

  • Quantifying Body Composition and Liver Disease in Children Using Free-Breathing MRI and MRE

    Sorry, accepting new patients by invitation only

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to measure liver fat content and fatty tissues in the body, and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is used to measure liver stiffness. The information from MRI and MRE are used to understand risk factors and diagnose liver diseases, such as fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis. However, current MRI and MRE scans need to be performed during a breath-hold, which may be challenging or impossible in children and infants. The goal of this research project is to develop and evaluate new free-breathing MRI and MRE technology to improve the comfort and diagnostic accuracy for children and infants.

    at UCLA

Our lead scientists for Liver Disease research studies include .

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