Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. (KUMCRI) received a $596,476 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273), effective May 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031. This award supports fundamental biomedical research investigating the role of acute phase response (APR) signaling in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) resolution following alcohol cessation. The research will examine mechanisms by which hepatocytes direct a resolution program that alters the phenotype of liver macrophages and non-parenchymal cells to modulate inflammatory responses and stimulate collagen degradation. The project specifically investigates how acute phase proteins, such as serum amyloid A (SAA), function as pro-resolving factors and will evaluate the therapeutic potential of APR signaling as a mechanism to promote fibrosis resolution in patients with ALD.

The research deliverables include scientific findings on hepatocyte-derived signaling mechanisms that promote liver recovery after alcohol cessation, identification of potential therapeutic targets (including CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta modulation), characterization of SAA and acute phase HDL bioactivity in fibrosis resolution, and the development of novel intervention strategies to improve clinical outcomes for ALD patients. The project represents the NIAAA's commitment to building fundamental scientific knowledge applicable to improved treatment methods and prevention strategies for alcohol-related disease, addressing a significant public health challenge given ALD's role as a major cause of alcohol-related mortality.