Continuation of the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请是非酒精性脂肪性肝炎临床研究网络(NASH CRN) -数据协调中心的延续。非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）影响北美三分之一的成年人和五分之一的儿童，在美国是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。NAFLD，尤其是非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH），可能导致终末期肝病和原发性肝癌，以及肝脏、心血管和癌症相关的死亡率，导致健康负担和成本的大幅增加。NASH CRN具有理想和独特的定位，可以影响NASH日益增长的公共卫生意义，这只能通过大型研究联盟来解决。NASH CRN的主要目标是开展成人和儿童NASH和NAFLD的临床研究。一个密切相关和高度优先的次要目标是开展NASH和NAFLD的转化研究，重点关注发病机制，这将为了解自然历史和开发更好的诊断、治疗和临床管理手段提供基础。在NASH CRN的下一阶段，在上一个资助周期中启动的成人和儿童治疗试验将完成

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is for the Continuation of the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN) - Data Coordinating Center. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects one out of every three adults and five children in North America and is a growing public health issue in the United States. NAFLD, and especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), may lead to end-stage liver disease and primary liver cancer, as well as liver-, cardiovascular-, and cancer-related mortality, resulting in major increases in health burdens and costs. The NASH CRN is ideally and uniquely positioned to impact the growing public health significance of NASH that can only be addressed via a large research consortium. The primary objective of the NASH CRN is to perform clinical research on NASH and NAFLD in adults and children. A closely linked and high priority secondary objective is to conduct translational research in NASH and NAFLD focusing on the pathogenesis that will provide the basis for understanding the natural history and developing means of better diagnosis, treatment, and clinical management. In the next phase of the NASH CRN, the adult and pediatric therapeutic trials initiated during the previous funding cycle will be completed, and new therapeutic trials, including phase 2a proof of mechanism and phase 2b clinical trials will be initiated, to develop evidence-based treatment options that are safe, effective, simple, and inexpensive. The longitudinal cohort of adults and children with NAFLD will be extended, which will prospectively define the natural history of the disease, the cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, and will aid in biomarker discovery and validation, and development and validation of non-invasive techniques to evaluate and identify those with NASH/NAFLD, who will respond, and how quickly the disease is progressing. The Data Coordinating Center will provide the NASH CRN with leadership, expertise (in biostatistical analysis, study design, data management, multicenter coordination, quality control methods) and project support, communication and organization and is eager to continue its collaboration with the clinical centers, NIDDK program staff, and private sector partners to complete these very important research objectives. The NASH CRN is poised to continue its major impact on the field and directly advance the mission of the National Institutes of Health to improve the health of the public.