Basic Science Research
Intestinal Mucosal Biology | Biliary Atresia l Liver Transplantation
Gregory M. Tiao, MD
Biliary atresia is a life-threatening disorder of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants. In most cases, it ultimately results in the need for liver transplantation. We are exploring the pathophysiology of biliary atresia and are focusing research efforts on the cholangiocyte (epithelial cells that line the bile ducts). We believe that an inflammatory process involving the cholangiocyte is responsible for the subsequent fibrosis and cirrhosis that results in end-stage liver disease.
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Frederick C. Ryckman, MD, Maria H. Alonso, MD and John Bucuvalas, MD
Research activities within the Liver Care Center include a number of basic science and clinical projects. These include:
- Participation in an ongoing multi-center study of acute fulminant liver failure
- Functional health and quality of life assessment in children following transplantation
The center has played a lead role in the development of the SPLIT (Studies in Pediatric Liver Transplantation) data registry, which has developed a national database for pediatric liver transplantation in order to characterize and follow trends in:
- Patient and graft survival
- Rejection incidence
- Growth parameters
- Immunosuppressive therapy
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