The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism awarded Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc. $177,736 on August 17, 2026, under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273) to support a postdoctoral researcher's career development in understanding the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in alcohol-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure.
The award funds a two-year mentored research program spanning August 17, 2026, through July 31, 2028, based in Boston, Massachusetts. The candidate will develop skills in immunology and leadership while conducting proteomics research to characterize inter-organ crosstalk in alcohol-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure. During the independent research phase, the work will employ organ-on-chip experimental designs and proteomic analysis to examine how the secretome from NET-damaged hepatocytes regulates renal epithelial cells, establishing a foundation for future multi-organ studies on alcohol and NET effects.
The research addresses a gap in therapeutic options for acute-on-chronic liver failure patients, who currently face limited treatment beyond organ transplantation. The candidate brings prior experience in both chronic liver disease development and neutrophil-mediated immune activation. The project builds on the recipient's newly developed mouse model of alcohol-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure that mimics human disease pathophysiology.