Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases - Sanford Burnham Prebys

Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases

liver cell

A Menace in the Multitudes

The rising prevalence of metabolic disorders in the United States and around the world is alarming, especially those conditions that affect the liver—central to metabolic health. 

One in three American adults has metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that includes coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Liver disease is equally prevalent. It’s estimated that 20-30% of adults in the U.S. have metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and 5-10% have the more severe form called metabolic-dysfunction associated steatohepatitis or MASH, which can lead to scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer and organ failure. 

Worldwide, the estimated prevalence of MASLD is 38%.

Our goal is to identify and interpret the underlying causes and drivers of metabolic and liver diseases, a continuum of research that includes basic intracellular signaling, metabolic translational research, human physiological studies and clinical trials. 

Literally millions of people endure or face lives of chronic poor health, diminished well being and eventual death from metabolic diseases. Current therapeutic options are limited, ineffective or don’t exist at all. We want to change that. 


Programs

liver cell

Metabolic and Liver Diseases Program

One in three American adults has metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that includes coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. This trend is mirrored in diseases of the liver, an organ crucial to metabolic function. By understanding what drives these diverse conditions, we can find ways to prevent, slow and even stop the rising onslaught.

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Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program

Cancer is the consequence of highly organized cells and molecules, fueled by disinformation, that create abnormal tissues and deadly tumors. We seek to understand how cancer cells survive and thrive within their microenvironment, and how to intervene to combat them.

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