Aaron Carrel, MD, professor, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, is Co-PI on a $50,000 Translational Basic and Clinical Research Pilot Award from the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR). The study, led by Carell and contact PI Michele Novaes Ravelli, PhD, MSc, research associate, Biotechnology Center, University of Wisconsin–Madison, explores conservative approaches for liver function in children. Current tests for metabolic liver disease in children are limited. The main test, a liver biopsy, is invasive and not practical for regular use in children. This study, “Non-Invasive Assessment of Liver Function in Children with Overweight and Obesity Using (13C)-Methacetin Breath Test,” will look at whether the 13C-Methacetin Breath Test can be a safe, non-invasive way to check liver function in real time. The project began in December of this year and will continue through November 2026.