Professor Shilpa Chokshi

Principal Investigator

Adjunct Professor of Experimental Hepatology

Kings College London

Acting Director & Chief Scientific Officer

The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology

Head of the Liver Immunology Research Group 

Contact Prof Shilpa Chokshi: s.chokshi@researchinliver.org.uk 

Contact Susan Short: s.short@researchinliver.org.uk
PA to Prof Chokshi 

 

“Three generations of my family have been affected by liver disease and I have experienced at first-hand the real-world impact of scientific discovery in the development of new treatments. UK mortality rates due to liver disease have increased by 400% since the 1970s and I am committed to help turning this tide through clinically transformative research.” 

Leadership:

Professor Shilpa Chokshi is Chief Scientific Officer and Acting Director of the Institute.

She is responsible for the provision of scientific and academic leadership, implementation of the Institute’s strategic and operational plans and oversight of research governance and management of the Institute and its staff. In her three years as Acting Director she has been committed to delivering a competitive research portfolio and strategy aligned to the Foundation for Liver Research charity’s mission: to support research into liver diseases that brings clinical benefits for patients. Having successfully recruited an exceptional group of emerging scientific leaders in the field she oversees scientific progress as a mentor, provides guidance, support, and expert advice during weekly meetings with Principal Investigators and senior staff. She is passionately dedicated to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

Research:

The translational research strategy Professor Chokshi has delivered at the Institute encompasses the wide aetio-specific clinical manifestations of liver disease under the common heading of ‘Mechanisms of Liver Cell Injury and Repair’ with seven interconnected workstreams. Since her appointment as Acting Director, she has developed a common cross-cutting theme of inflammation and immune dysfunction across the portfolio. This has stemmed from her own research focus on understanding the complex immunological landscape in end-stage liver disease and the development of targeted immunomodulatory strategies to restore effective anti-pathogen and anti-cancer immunity, while reducing harmful inflammatory processes.

Training programmes and teaching:

An experienced educator with a proven track record in curriculum development, tutoring, and lecturing at both undergraduate and graduate levels she has successfully established a vibrant and expanding postgraduate programme and provided research staff with teaching opportunities at KCL. She has implemented programs to increase access and employability for future scientists, including Science & Research School placements and the Emerging Scientist Internship Program in collaboration with secondary schools and Oxford University. Additionally, as the Basic Science Director of the British Association of the Study of the Liver, she annually organizes the BASL Basic Science Retreat and has been awarded the opportunity to host the European Association for the Study of the Liver’s Basic Science Research Training School in 2022 and again in 2024.

Key Collaborations within the Institute:

1. Luca Urbani
2. Vish Patel
3. Michele Vacca

Team: Liver Immunology Research Group

Dr Elena Palma
Dr Sandra Phillips
Dr Antonio Riva

Students and visiting fellows:

Wendy Fernandes, PhD, Current 2nd, 2022 – 2025: Improving response to anti-PD1 immunotherapy and anti-tumor immunity during hepatocellular carcinoma using novel gut-derived bacterial metabolites.

Caitlin Rore, PhD, Current 2nd, 2022 – 2025: Alcohol misuse and Hepatitis B virus infection – a cocktail for exacerbated liver disease.

Huanran Lyu, PhD, Current 2nd, 2022 – 2026: Role of erythrophagocytosis in alcohol related liver disease.

Tamas Sukei, PhD, Current 2nd, 2020 – 2023: Assessing the tumor-specific immunogenicity of liver cancer extracellular matrix.

Stijn De Daas, PhD, Current 2nd, 2020 – 2023: The Inflammasomes and Gut-Liver Bacterial Translocation in Cirrhosis – Opportunities for Novel Therapies.

Ravi Jagatia, PhD, Current 1st, 2020 – 2023: Novel therapeutic strategies for primary and secondary liver cancers.

Ema Maxan, Fellowship, Current 1st, 2022 – 2023: Delineating the mechanisms driving the increased susceptability to bacterial infection that denotes patients with alcohol-related liver disease.

Key Publications:

Riva A, Chokshi S. Immune checkpoint receptors: homeostatic regulators of immunity. Hepatol Int. 2018 May;12(3):223-236. Invited Review. Impact Factor 9.029; Citations=44. Last & Corresponding Author.

Riva A, Patel V, Kurioka A, Jeffery HC, Wright G, Tarff S, Shawcross D, Ryan JM, Evans A, Azarian S, Bajaj JS, Fagan A, Patel V, Mehta K, Lopez C, Simonova M, Katzarov K, Hadzhiolova T, Pavlova S, Wendon JA, Oo YH, Klenerman P, Williams R, Chokshi S. Mucosa-associated invariant T cells link intestinal immunity with antibacterial immune defects in alcoholic liver disease. Gut. 2018 May;67(5):918-930. Original Article. Last and Corresponding author. Impact Factor 31.793; Citations=44.

Van der Merwe S, Chokshi S, Bernsmeier C, Albillos A. The multifactorial mechanisms of bacterial infections in decompensated cirrhosis. J Hepatol. 2021 Jul; 75 Suppl 1:S82-S100. Invited Review. Impact Factor 30.083.

Chokshi S, Phillips S, Chatterji U, Riva A, Bobardt M, Williams R, Gallay P, Naoumov NV. Alisporivir inhibition of hepatocyte cyclophilins reduces HBV replication and hepatitis B surface antigen production. Gastroenterology. 2015 Feb;148(2):403-14.e7. *Joint 1st author. Impact Factor 33.383; Citations=59.

Markwick LJ, Riva A, Ryan JM, Cooksley H, Palma E, Tranah TH, Manakkat Vijay GK, Vergis N, Thursz M, Evans A, Wright G, Tarff S, O’Grady J, Williams R, Shawcross DL, Chokshi S. Blockade of PD1 and TIM3 restores innate and adaptive immunity in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2015 Mar;148(3):590-602.e10. Original Article. Impact Factor 33.383; Citations=164.

Riva A, Laird M, Casrouge A, Ambrozaitis A, Williams R, Naoumov NV, Albert ML, Chokshi S. Truncated CXCL10 is associated with failure to achieve spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C infection. Hepatology. 2014 Aug;60(2):487-96. Original Article. Impact Factor 17.298; Citations=58.

Evans A, Riva A, Cooksley H, Phillips S, Puranik S, Nathwani A, Brett S, Naoumov NV* and Chokshi S*. Programmed death 1 expression during antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B: Impact of hepatitis B e-antigen seroconversion. Hepatology. 2008 Sep;48(3):759-69. *joint last author. Original Article. Impact Factor 17.298; Citations=238.