This project has been awarded the 2022 Australasian Sonographers Association Research Grant.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disorder, with a worldwide prevalence approaching 30% in the general population and as high as 55-80% in patients with type 2 diabetes. NAFLD can progress to advanced liver disease and is associated with significant morbidity and related mortality. A coordinated approach to obesity and type 2 diabetes will be essential to mitigate the impact on the health system. Research to develop preventative and therapeutic interventions for NAFLD is ongoing and requires reliable non-invasive liver fat quantification methods to study their efficacy.
Ultrasound-based liver fat quantification is a new, non-invasive method based on attenuation and backscatter properties of the ultrasound beam. The key objective of this project is establishing a robust imaging protocol and demonstrating ultrasound as a dependable alternative to MRI to estimate liver fat percentage. The ability to assess liver fat content via ultrasound provides clinicians with an accessible tool to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, and a means to influence lifestyle choices in an increasingly health-conscious population.
This project is a collaboration between QUT, The Princess Alexandra Hepatology Unit and the Herston Imaging Research Facility (HIRF)
Chief Investigators
