NCCU Biochemist Maxwell Gyamfi Receives $1.6M Grant To Study Liver Damage From Alcohol
Durham, NC – North Carolina Central University biochemist Maxwell A. Gyamfi, Ph.D., received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to further studies into why women and African Americans experience more severe liver disease from alcohol.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism issued the research-and-development award to Gyamfi as a follow up to his previous work involving the pregnane X receptor (PXR) gene and its role in liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic illnesses.
“The work being done by Dr. Gyamfi and other researchers at NCCU’s Julius R. Chambers Biotechnology Biomedical Research Institute are helping scientists understand the genetic and metabolic differences impacting health,” said Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye. “That understanding is a first step in the development of medical approaches and interventions that can specifically benefit African Americans and women.”
Alcoholic liver disease is a result of excessive alcohol use with negative health impacts disproportionately affecting women and African Americans. The researchers also are investigating genetic and metabolic factors leading to obesity and liver disease in both sexes, as well as African Americans.
“Women alcoholics also have greater death rates than men and higher risks for heart disease, breast cancer, and other health concerns,” Gyamfi explained.
To conduct the study, researchers will use novel humanized mouse models and human liver and blood samples to provide insights into the human PXR gene, which is known to help protect the body from drugs and foreign substances. The researchers will also be looking for new therapeutic targets for treatment.
“Our studies should provide ground-breaking advances into pathways that can be targeted for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease in women and African Americans,” Gyamfi said.
The NIH grant will be awarded over five years, at $333,000 per year.
About North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University prepares students to succeed in the global marketplace. Consistently ranked as a top Historically Black College or University and regional university in the south, NCCU offers flagship programs in the sciences, education, law, business, nursing, and the arts. Founded in 1910, NCCU remains committed to diversity in and access to higher education. Our alumni excel in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. NCCU is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. The university’s Strategic Plan 2019-2024, “Charting a New Landscape for Student-Center Success,” has four goals: student access and success; innovation, research, and entrepreneurship; collaboration and partnerships; and institutional sustainability. Visit www.nccu.edu.