Aim
To identify blood biomarkers in patients suffering from MASH. The biomarkers can potentially help diagnose patients, predict disease development, and monitor treatment responses.
Approach
The oLIVER project team is using an approach called APTASHAPE. By mixing a blood sample with millions of small RNA biosensors, the team can generate a digital 'picture' of the blood sample's composition. By 'taking pictures' of different blood samples, the APTASHAPE approach can help researchers find out, which molecular changes are taking place during disease.
Outcome
The oLIVER team identified potential biomarkers and drug targets for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) using the APTASHAPE platform. By analyzing blood plasma samples from patients and healthy controls, the team identified distinct molecular "fingerprints" associated with liver disease. These findings provide a foundation for developing blood-based tools to support diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in MASLD.
On this page, you can watch a video recorded at the beginning of the oLIVER project. You can also read an article on the output of the project or read a short cartoon story about the aim of the project.
THE oLIVER TEAM
Academic team members
- Jørgen Kjems, Professor, Aarhus University
- Henning Grønbæk, Professor, Aaarhus University Hospital
- Christian B. Vægter, Assoc. Professor, Aarhus University
- Daniel Miotto Dupont
- Søren Fjelstrup
- Mikkel Breinholt Kjær
- Asger Givskov Jørgensen
Industrial team member
- Natasha Barascuk Michaelsen, Novo Nordisk
PUBLICATIONS FROM THE oLIVER PROJECT
- Kjær MB, et al. 2025. Diagnosis and Staging of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Using Biomarker-Directed Aptamer Panels. Biomolecules. 15(2):255. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15020255
- Kjær MB, et al. 2026. Biomarker-directed aptamer panels for diagnosis and differentiation of neuroendocrine tumors. J Neuroendocrinol. 38(3):e70146. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.70146
ABOUT ODIN
ODIN brings researchers from academia and industry together to co-create need-driven research projects that can lead to new treatments, diagnostics, tools, and technologies. We fund the strongest project ideas through competitive funding calls. Companies cannot receive ODIN funding, but participation is free of charge and gives access to academic expertise, new collaborations, and opportunities to explore early-stage research challenges.
ODIN is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
