Liver Sciences
Group Lead
Professor Alberto Sanchez Fueyo
The Institute of Liver Studies mission is to produce research that impacts directly on patient care by perfecting surgical techniques and supportive management of the failing liver and elucidating mechanisms of liver damage to develop specific and more efficient modes of treatment.
The research focuses on:
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Hepatocyte Biology: developing hepatocyte transplantation for children with liver-based metabolic disorders
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Liver Immunopathology: investigating immune mechanisms involved in autoimmune hepatitis; primary biliary cirrhosis; viral hepatitis; and acute liver failure
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Liver Molecular Genetics: investigating the molecular basis of cholestasis and bile formation
Research includes:
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development of innovative therapy for liver disease, including new surgical techniques;
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use of marginal livers and isolated human hepatocytes to increase the organ pool;
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novel surgical and medical managements of biliary atresia;
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liver gene therapy, cancer therapy by exploiting allogeneic immune recognition;
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supportive management for liver failure, including the liver role in controlling growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis;
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insulin resistance in chronic liver disease and acute liver failure; muscle and adrenal dysfunction in critically ill patients;
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influence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and intrathoracic volume on renal function and haemodynamic status;
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pathophysiology of cerebral edema;
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impact of defective monocyte function on the outcome of liver failure; extra-corporeal liver support devices;
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immunopathology of liver damage, including immuno pathogenic aspects of autoimmune and viral induced liver disease; rejection and tolerance in liver transplantation
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molecular basis of cholestasis and bile formation, including genetic characterisation of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 1 (BSEP deficiency), type 2 (PFC1 disease), type 3 (MDR3 deficiency), neonatal sclerosing cholangitis, intestinal microvillus atrophy.