Liver-Related Work

Our research focus is to identify molecular targets of Sickle cell Hepatic crisis. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects ~100,000 Americans and millions of people worldwide. Sickle cell anemia can affect any part of the body, and one of the main organs to be affected is the hepatobiliary system. We have used a transgenic, humanized mouse  model of SCD that exclusively expresses sickle human hemoglobin. Using our recently developed real-time in vivo imaging of blood and bile transport, we identified sinusoidal ischemia, impairment of canalicular bile secretion, hepatic iron dyshomeostasis and intrahepatic accumulation of bile acids in the liver of SCD mice. Understanding the molecular events that initiate and promulgate sickle-cell-induced hepatobiliary injury has great potential to prevent hepatic insult and progressive liver damage in SCD. 

Research Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Hematology/Oncology