Research

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is an unavoidable part of liver transplantation. We study the cellular and molecular responses that occur during ischemia and after reperfusion, including changes in metabolism, mitochondrial function, stress signaling, inflammation, and hepatocyte transport. Our goal is to understand how these responses influence liver injury and functional recovery after reperfusion. We also seek to identify measurable markers of injury and potential therapeutic targets that could improve organ protection and recovery.

Machine perfusion provides a unique opportunity not only to preserve a donor liver outside the body, but also to observe how the organ functions before transplantation. We use ex vivo perfusion models to study liver physiology under controlled conditions and to determine how different degrees of ischemic injury affect organ function. We are developing more quantitative ways to assess graft function during perfusion, rather than relying only on conventional biochemical markers. This includes physiologic measurements, molecular markers, and computational models that may help characterize the degree of liver injury and improve the evaluation of marginal donor organs.

Liver failure is the only major end-stage organ failure without an effective rescue therapy. We are developing a next-generation liver assist system for patients with severe liver failure when transplantation is not immediately available. Our current work uses perfused porcine livers to study whether an external liver can provide temporary metabolic and detoxification support while a patient recovers or awaits transplantation.