Research Projects

Research staff are working in six groups investigating the following main areas:

• Viral hepatitis Clinical trials of antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and C including co-infection with HIVand on the laboratory side, the immunology and cell biology of host-virus inter-relationships.



• Liver Failure Studies on hepatorenal syndrome and other complications of cirrhosis including the development of new chemical treatments for hepatic encephalopathy and studies on minor neuropsychiatric derangements that arise from even minimal changes in daily activities. The group also has a major interest in the development of liver support devices, both artificial and bio-artificial. Another area of investigation is the susceptibility of liver patients to recurrent infections.



• Nutritional aspects of chronic liver disease Including inter-relationships with insulin resistance and energy expenditure and new investigations with first and second hit hypotheses underlying fatty liver disease and progression to cirrhosis.



• Alcohol and liver disease New approaches to treatment of acute alcoholic hepatitis based on monoclonal antibodies and other agents blocking the effects of TNF release. Also human experimental studies of the cellular mechanisms involved in liver damage including in the rise of portal pressure.



• Liver tumours Immune responses in primary hepatocellular carcinoma and new photodynamic therapies for bile duct cancer; clinical trials of embolisation and chemoembolisation in primary liver tumours along with investigations into new vascular endothelial receptor antagonists.



• Liver transplantation Experimental studies on ischaemic reperfusion injury in cadaver liver and its prevention by preconditioning. In a Living Donor Liver Transplantation programme, studies on functional regeneration in the donor and long term outcome of recipients.

Staff of the Institute are involved in a number of collaborative clinical projects and in the only UK programme for adult to adult living donor liver transplantation.

For further information on all the research programmes of the Institute please see the more detailed reports on the Institute of Hepatology website.