Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Colorado-Denver received a $791,520 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective February 4, 2026, with a completion date of November 30, 2029. This award funds research investigating the role of antigen-specific T cell responses in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a severe liver disease increasingly prevalent due to rising obesity rates. The research will characterize T cell clonal expansion in MASH progression, identify specific antigens recognized by clonally expanded T cells, determine whether stimulatory antigens are shared between human and mouse disease models, and elucidate the antigen-presenting cells driving T cell activation and whether these responses promote or suppress disease progression.

The research deliverables will advance understanding of T lymphocyte involvement in MASH pathology through comparative human and murine studies, addressing critical knowledge gaps that could inform development of novel therapeutic interventions for this chronic liver disease. This work directly supports NIDDK's programmatic objectives to promote basic and clinical biomedical research that improves understanding of disease mechanisms and leads to improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of liver and metabolic diseases.