Research Awards Program and Projects

The ALF, in collaboration with the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), is the largest supporter of liver disease research outside of the federal government. Since 1979, our Research Awards Program has granted $22 million to nearly 700 scientists, encouraging many to build careers in liver research and treatment. These grants have also enabled recipients to successfully compete for additional research funds through the NIH and other sources, and – thereby– enhance our progress towards improved prevention, detection and treatment options.

In April 2009, ALF announced the winners of its 2009 Research Awards Program. Fourteen scientists representing eleven medical and research institutions were awarded nearly $1,000,000 to support their research in the areas of alagille syndrome, hepatic cirrhosis and fibrosis, biliary atresia, hepatitis C, liver grafts, polycystic liver disease, hepatic carcinoma and primary biliary cirrhosis.

2009 Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Herman Lopata Memorial Hepatitis Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Hadas Dvory-Sobol, PhD

Stanford University

Inhibition of HCV Infection by Stitched AH Peptides

Alpha-helical (AH) peptides are proteins that have been shown to reduce the infectivity of Hepatitis C virus particles. Researchers have modified these proteins by a process called “hydrocarbon stitching”, a process that renders the molecules more stable and effective. The aim of this study is to explore the antiviral potential of stitched AH peptides against HCV.

Dean Thiel Memorial Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Gabriele Fuchs, PhD

Stanford University

Modulation of Hepatitis C Virus Gene Expression by mircoRNAs That Target the Viral Coding Region

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short nucleotide sequences that are capable of down-regulating certain genes. Studies have demonstrated that two miRNAs in particular bind to the coding region of HCV genetic material when treated with interferon-beta. This project will investigate the mechanism by which miRNAs inhibit HCV expression and whether this approach can be used to develop a novel antiviral therapy.

Charles Trey, MD Memorial Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Zhongwei Cao, PhD

Stanford University

Atorvastatin: a Potentially Novel Agent for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

More than 22,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer (HCC), also known as liver cancer, in 2009. Statins are well-known as a cardiovascular medication. This grant award is for research exploring Atorvostatin as a novel treatment for hepatocellular cancer.

2009 Research Awards

44.4KB
Listing of 2009 Research Award Recipients


Below you will find a selection of research projects that have been awarded to the Northern California and Nevada Division.

Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis

29.2KB
Apoptosis and Liver Fibrogenesis by Natalie J. Torok, MD

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

43.4KB
Genetic Dissection of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) by Bradley E. Aouizerat, PhD

Hepatitis B

28.9KB
>>Role of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in the Pathogenesis of Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B - Induced Liver Injury by Jody Lynn Baron, MD, PhD

Metabolic Liver Diseases

28.9KB
Alternative Cell Sources for the Treatment of Metabolic Liver Diseases by Holger F. Willenbring, MD

The Donor Liver

28.6KB
Improving the Allocation of a Scarce but Lifesaving Resource - The Donor Liver by Scott W. Biggins, MD, MAS

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)

28.8KB
Epigenetics of X-Linked Genes in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Does X Mark the Spot? by Carlo Selmi, MD, PhD

For more information about our National Research Awards program please visit www.liverfoundation.org.

Page updated: October 12th, 2009