Award
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 5R01AA029072-04
Circadian and mitochondrial dysfunction in alcohol-related liver disease
Recipient
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology
Award Amount
$457,851.00
Ceiling
$457,851.00
Awarded
March 31, 2026
Identifier
5R01AA029072-04
Research project funded by NIAAA to study the impact of alcohol on liver circadian rhythms and mitochondrial function, aiming to develop novel therapeutics for alcohol-related liver disease.
Description
The project investigates how heavy alcohol drinking disrupts the molecular biological oscillator or ‘clock’ in liver cells, impairing energy production for tissue repair and liver health. The research aims to understand the role of circadian rhythms and mitochondrial bioenergetic functions in ALD pathogenesis, focusing on the disruption of liver mitochondrial rhythms and the roles of BMAL1 and E4BP4 proteins. The study will test whether restoring liver clock activity can prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and liver injury, providing insights for drug discovery targeting mitochondrial and chronobiology-based therapeutics.