Project 1
The goal of Project 1 is to develop HCC risk stratification models based on phenotypic, metabolic, radiomic and genetic markers of metabolic dysfunction among patients with cirrhosis. We propose the analysis of data and biospecimens from the prospective THCCC cohort of >5000 patients with cirrhosis (and 350-400 incident HCC) to develop a suite of risk score algorithms) for predicting the risk of HCC among patients with cirrhosis.
Project PI: Hashem El-Serag, M.D., MPH
Chair and Professor
Margaret M. and Albert B. Alkek Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Project 2
The goal of Project 2 is to evaluate the chemopreventive effects and potential harms of metformin, statins or glitazones in reducing the risk of HCC in individuals with MAFLD. We propose a retrospective cohort study using national VA datasets of >580,000 patients with MAFLD. We will also examine the effect of genetic markers on the chemopreventive effects of these medications in patients with MAFLD cirrhosis in THCCC.
Project PI: Fasiha Kanwal, M.D., MSHS
Professor and Section Chief, Gastroenterology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Project 3
The goal of Project 3 is to examine comparative cost-effectiveness of prevention strategies in MAFLD. We will develop a mathematical simulation model and perform comparative analyses of benefits versus harms of chemoprevention and HCC surveillance in individuals with MAFLD, and of using precision surveillance/chemoprevention using HCC risk stratification.
Project PI: Jagpreet Chhatwal, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Harvard Medical School
Boston, Massachusetts
Data & Analysis Core
The goal of the Data & Analysis Core is to provide expertise and support related to data management, coordination, programming, statistics, and information technology for all projects and cores in the project. The aims of the three projects require rigorous implementation of well-designed protocols for patient enrollment and biospecimen and data collection.
Chris Amos, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Quantitative Science
Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Aaron Thrift, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Biospecimen and Biomarker Development Core
The Biospecimen and Biomarker Development Core will contribute significantly to the project by ensuring that high- quality, well-annotated samples are available and that innovative biomarkers are developed and technically validated for use by the projects.
Michael Scheurer, Ph.D., MPH
Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Salma Kaochar, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Administrative Core
The Administrative Core will support all three research projects and the two shared resource cores. This core will provide centralized administrative and scientific leadership to facilitate synergistic interactions among all components of the project.
Michelle Luster, MS
Senior Research Coordinator
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Sara Escamilla-Tristan
Research Administrator
Department of Gastroenterology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
