Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded the University of Wisconsin-Madison a $614,102 Project Grant on April 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). The four-year award, concluding March 31, 2030, supports research investigating the mechanisms underlying parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD) in pediatric populations through translational research utilizing a recently developed pediatric total parenteral nutrition (TPN) animal model. The research will examine how immunological responses to intestinal microbiota and their metabolites drive pathological outcomes in the liver during TPN dependence, with particular focus on the role of myeloid cells, cholestasis, and steatosis development in early life.

The project delivers scientific research products aimed at elucidating the etiology of PNALD and identifying potential therapeutic interventions beyond symptom management. Preliminary findings indicate that hepatic inflammation driven by macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells contributes to disease pathogenesis, with microbiome composition and metabolite profiles playing significant roles. The research will advance understanding of gut-liver axis dysfunction under TPN and evaluate clinically relevant interventions, such as antibiotic administration, to mitigate serious complications including fibrosis and organ failure in pediatric patients dependent on intravenous nutrition.