Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology

Focus of our Research

Our laboratory is primarily studying the molecular dynamics underlying the pathophysiology of liver. We aim to translate these discoveries into better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for better outcome for patients with liver disease.

1. Hepatitis B Virus (Their Role in chronic liver disease)
2. Non-coding RNAs (Their regulation in liver function)
3. Liver Regeneration (Molecular control of regenerative capacity)
4. MASLD / MetALD (Molecular signatures of fatty liver disease)

The Biology Driving Our Questions

The liver is a multifunctional organ responsible for metabolism, biosynthesis, secretion and detoxification. Uniquely, it can regenerate through cell proliferation after injury but when cell loss outpaces regeneration due to viral infection, dysbalance in the diet intake, etc., chronic liver injury occurs. Depending on the insult, the injury progresses towards fibrosis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. All of these processes are tightly controlled by various genes. We work on elucidating the mechanisms controlling the chronic liver injury.

1. Healthy Liver (Metabolism, biosynthesis, secretion & detoxification, with a unique capacity to regenerate after hepatectomy or injury.)
2. Injury & Imbalance (Alcohol, fatty diet or viral infection (HBV/HCV) damage hepatocytes faster than they can regenerate.)
3. Fatty Liver → Steatohepatitis (Fat accumulates; oxidative stress and inflammation accelerate injury and activate stellate cells.)
4. Fibrosis → Cirrhosis → Cancer (Persistent injury drives fibrosis, cirrhosis and, in many cases, hepatocellular carcinoma.)