Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Mayo Clinic received a $495,130 Project Grant 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 March 1, 2026 through November 30, 2029. The award funds research into autophagic processes and their role in hepatocellular steatosis, specifically examining how cellular mechanisms regulate the storage, breakdown, and catabolism of lipid droplets in liver cells.

The research deliverables focus on understanding metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition affecting over 30% of the U.S. population and a leading cause of liver transplantation. The funded research will investigate microlipophagy (MILI)—a novel autophagic process in which lysosomes directly degrade lipid droplets—and macropinocytosis as mechanisms regulating hepatocellular lipid storage. Additionally, the research will examine the role of GTPases (including RAB and dynamin proteins) in these cellular processes and evaluate mutant protein variants identified in MASLD patients that induce hepatocellular steatosis, with the ultimate goal of developing preventive and therapeutic interventions for this prevalent metabolic disorder.