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Physician-scientists at IU School of Medicine conduct ground-breaking research to understand cirrhosis and liver damage.

Cirrhosis Research Studies

Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and is unable to function normally due to chronic, or long lasting, injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and partially blocks the flow of blood through the liver.

Investigators

Naga P. Chalasani, MD

David W. Crabb Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Archita Desai, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Craig Lammert, MS, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Eric Orman, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine

Niharika Samala, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Open Research Studies for Cirrhosis

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Rifaximin Soluble Solid Dispersion (SSD) Tablets for the Delay of Encephalopathy Decompensation in Cirrhosis (RED-C) RNLC3131 and RNLC3132

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Marwan Ghabril, MD

Duration: 72 week treatment period with 4 week screening and 4 week follow-up

Patient Population: Adults with cirrhosis and no history of hepatic encephalopathy

Drug(s): Rifaximin SSD/placebo

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

View the study on clinicaltrials.gov

Galectin - Phase 2b/3

Enrolling: No

Principle Investigator: Raj Vuppalanchi, MD

Duration: 52 week treatment period with possibility of 52 additional weeks.

Patient Population: Patients 18-75 years old with NASH cirrhosis and no varices.

Drug(s): Belapectin every 2 week infusion.

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Midwest Cirrhosis Consortium

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigators: Marwan Ghabril, MD and Eric Orman, MD

Duration: 1 visit

Patient Population: Adults over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of cirrhosis admitted to the ICU, PCU and wards as an inpatient.

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Safety and Efficacy of Ketogenic Diet for PromotingWeight Loss in Obese Individuals with Compensated NASH Cirrhosis

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Raj Vuppalanchi, MD

Duration: 16 weeks

Patient Population: Patients over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of NASH cirrhosis with a BMI >30kg/m2.

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Tocotrienol

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Raj Vuppalanchi, MD

Duration: 5 years

Patient Population: Adults over the age 18 with a diagnosis of cirrhosis admitted to the ICU.

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

View the study on clinicaltrials.gov

Sarcopenia in NASH Cirrhosis

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Niharika Samala, MD

Duration: 2 years (estimated - until 50 patients are enrolled)

Patient Population: Age-matched males and females with NASH cirrhosis; Females must be post-menopausal

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Global AKI

Enrolling: No

Principle Investigator: Eric Orman, MD

Duration: TBD

Patient Population: Inpatient patients diagnosed with cirrhosis.

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Monitoring Lactulose Remotely: A Quality Improvement Pilot

Enrolling: Yes

Principle Investigator: Eric Orman, MD

Duration: 4 years

Patient Population: Patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy taking lactulose

Interested in this study? Please contact the clinical liver research team: iuliverr@iu.edu

Useful Cirrhosis Links

  • My Cirrhosis Coach (MCC)

    Developed by our Clinical Liver Research Investigators, this online calculator is an online resource.

    Check out the MCC calculator here.

Closed Cirrhosis Studies

  • A Study for Evaluation of BIV201 to Reduce Ascites and Complications in Patients With Cirrhosis and Refractory Ascites

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Eric Orman, MD

    Duration: 1 year

    Patient Population: Patients with refractory ascites

    Drug(s): Terlipressin

    View this study on clinicaltrials.gov

  • ALC Database

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Craig Lammert, MD

    Duration: 1 visit

    Patient Population: Alcoholic liver cirrhosis, no viral hepatitis, pre/post-transplant

  • Cirrhosis Readmit. Inpatient

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Archita Desai, MD

    Duration: 3-5 years

    Patient Population: Inpatients over the age of 18 with cirrhosis.

  • A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of AXA1665 in Subjects With Liver Cirrhosis and Prior Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy (EMMPOWER)

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Marwan Ghabril, MD

    Duration: 24 week treatment period with 4 week screening and 4 week follow-up

    Patient Population: Adults with cirrhosis and history of hepatic encephalopathy

    Drug(s): AXA1665/Placebo

    View this study on clinicaltrials.gov

  • ICU Study

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Kavish Patidar, DO

    Duration: 5 years

    Patient Population: Adults over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of cirrhosis admitted to the ICU.

  • Orman Fitness Pilot Study
    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Eric Orman, MD

    Duration: 3 months

    Patient Population: 18 and older

  • The Cirrhosis Medical Home

    Enrolling: No

    Principle Investigator: Eric Orman, MD

    Duration: Patients are enrolled for 6 months - total study duration is 2 years.

    Patient Population: Patients with cirrhosis who have recently been discharged from the hospital and their caregivers.