Bezerra Lab

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Bezerra Lab

Meet the Lab

Meet the Bezerra Lab
Kazuhiko Bessho, MD, PhD

Staff Scientist
Dr. Bessho is interested in the molecular basis of diversity of clinical phenotype in patients with biliary atresia. Combining analyses from patients with complementary studies in an experimental model of biliary atresia, he is elucidating molecular networks associated with clinical phenotype in biliary atresia.

Jorge A. Bezerra, MD

Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Staff Hepatologist, Director of Research, Director of the Digestive Health Center
Dr. Jorge Bezerra investigates the genetic, cellular and molecular basis of biliary atresia and other cholangiopathies in children. He studies diseased tissues and uses complementary animal models to identify causes of liver injury and to develop new therapies to stop progression of liver disease.

Frank DiPaola, MD

Clinical Fellow, Pediatric Gastroenterology
Dr. Dipaola is investigating the cellular phenotype of peribiliary glands and the role of peribiliary glands in the setting of duct injury in biliary atresia.

Jun Li, PhD

Research Fellow
Dr. Li investigates the role of CD4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia. Her research focuses on the interplay among cytokines, transcription factors and innate cells during activation, differentiation, and expansion of CD4+ T cells in disease pathogenesis.

Reena Mourya, Mpharm

Research Assistant IV
Reena explores several high-throughput multi-gene sequencing technologies to discover genetic mutations in children with inherited syndromes of intrahepatic cholestasis. She also studies molecular and inflammatory signatures categorizing heterogeneous populations of patients with biliary atresia.

Janet Pfister

Research Assistant II
Janet is investigating the role of complement cascade in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia. Using a mouse model, she is conducting a series of experiments to determine the role of iC3b, C5b-9 and complement receptors C3aR and C5aR in bile duct epithelial injury and obstruction.

Rachel Sheridan, MD

Clinical Fellow
Dr. Sheridan’s research focuses on the molecular and cellular basis of hepatobiliary injury in human and experimental models of liver and biliary disease, with special interest in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia.

Pranav Shivakumar, PhD

Instructor of Pediatrics
Dr. Shivakumar is investigating the mechanistic role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of biliary atresia focusing on NK- and T-cells and complement components in the initiation and propagation of inflammatory duct injury and obstruction.

Stephanie Walters, MS

Research Assistant III
Stephanie is investigating the role of small molecules and ligands in the pathogenesis of Biliary Atresia. Using a mouse model and in vitro systems, she is conducting a series of experiments to effectors of bile duct epithelial injury and obstruction.
Bachelors of Science, Ohio State University, Ohio, 2008
Masters of Science, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, 2010

Kazuhiko Bessho

Jorge A. Bezerra

Frank DiPaola

Jun Li

Reena Mourya

Janet Pfister

Rachel Sheridan

Pranav Shivakumar

Stephanie Walters

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