
Professor Debbie Shawcross
Professor of Hepatology and Chronic Liver Failure
Research interests
- Biomedical and life sciences
Biography
Professor Debbie Shawcross is a Clinician Scientist and Professor of Hepatology and Chronic Liver Failure at the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, King’s College London. She works as a Consultant Hepatologist on the King’s College Hospital Liver Unit with a specialist interest in hepatic encephalopathy and the complications of cirrhosis.
Debbie Shawcross is an internationally recognised liver specialist and passionate advocate for tackling the growing burden of chronic liver disease. Frequently featured on TV, radio, and in print, she speaks out on the dangers of excessive alcohol use and the urgent need for prevention.
She was elected to the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Scientific Committee and Governing Board in October 2022 and is currently serving as its first female Secretary General.
As an advocate for high quality education and training in gastroenterology and hepatology she served as a Health Education England London Gastroenterology Training Programme Director for 10 years serving on the British Society Gastroenterology (BSG) Specialist Advisory Committee and Training Committee, BSG Mentor and an active member of the BSG Supporting Women in Gastroenterology. She is Chair of the BSG Research Committee and sits on the BSG Executive Committee and Council, Clinical Advisor for the British Liver Trust and a Trustee for GUTS UK Charity.
Her research programme characterises the immunobiology of chronic liver failure focusing specifically on the gut-liver-brain axis in the context of the gut microbiome as a driver of immune dysfunction, inflammation and encephalopathy. She is leading the field in clinical trials of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in Europe and is Chief Investigator of the NIHR-funded EME UK multicentre randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial of FMT (capsules) [PROMISE Trial] in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated and alcohol-related cirrhosis.
Research

The gut-liver-brain axis in chronic liver disease
The Shawcross Lab focuses on the immune-gut-liver-brain axis and developing interventions which normalise the abnormal gut microbiome for patients.

Clinical Diagnostics Development Unit (CDDU)
The CDDU ethos is to harmonise all methods used within the labs for the processing of clinical samples.
News
Expert recommendations for the use of AI in the diagnosis, treatment and research of liver diseases
Researchers from King’s College London are part of a group of 34 international leading experts in hepatology, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI)...

Lord Mayor visits the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies to champion liver health innovation
On 2 May, the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies (RW-ILS) welcomed the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London for a visit spotlighting King's...

'Poo transplant' trial provides hope for liver disease patients
The UK is to launch a clinical trial of a ‘poo transplant’ that researchers believe could treat advanced liver disease and fight antimicrobial resistance.

MPs invited to get their livers checked by researchers
Expert researchers and clinicians have been raising awareness about the importance of liver health in Parliament by hosting a liver screening event for MPs.

King's hosts antimicrobial resistance awareness event at Westminster
On Tuesday 22nd March, King’s hosted the event Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Liver Disease in the Churchill Rooms at the Houses of Parliament.
Phage therapy shows promise for treating Alcoholic Liver Disease
Study shows treating mice with bacteriophages clears bacteria and eliminates the disease in mice.

Features
Anti-microbial resistance: How King's are working to find a solution
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines such as antibiotics making infections harder to treat...

Research

The gut-liver-brain axis in chronic liver disease
The Shawcross Lab focuses on the immune-gut-liver-brain axis and developing interventions which normalise the abnormal gut microbiome for patients.

Clinical Diagnostics Development Unit (CDDU)
The CDDU ethos is to harmonise all methods used within the labs for the processing of clinical samples.
News
Expert recommendations for the use of AI in the diagnosis, treatment and research of liver diseases
Researchers from King’s College London are part of a group of 34 international leading experts in hepatology, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI)...

Lord Mayor visits the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies to champion liver health innovation
On 2 May, the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies (RW-ILS) welcomed the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London for a visit spotlighting King's...

'Poo transplant' trial provides hope for liver disease patients
The UK is to launch a clinical trial of a ‘poo transplant’ that researchers believe could treat advanced liver disease and fight antimicrobial resistance.

MPs invited to get their livers checked by researchers
Expert researchers and clinicians have been raising awareness about the importance of liver health in Parliament by hosting a liver screening event for MPs.

King's hosts antimicrobial resistance awareness event at Westminster
On Tuesday 22nd March, King’s hosted the event Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Liver Disease in the Churchill Rooms at the Houses of Parliament.
Phage therapy shows promise for treating Alcoholic Liver Disease
Study shows treating mice with bacteriophages clears bacteria and eliminates the disease in mice.

Features
Anti-microbial resistance: How King's are working to find a solution
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines such as antibiotics making infections harder to treat...
