Research Areas:
Our laboratory investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying pediatric cholestatic liver diseases, with a primary emphasis on biliary atresia (BA). The laboratory aims to elucidate the pathways responsible for cholangiocyte injury, impaired bile duct homeostasis, progressive fibrosis, and liver regeneration, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets for chronic cholangiopathies.
Research in the laboratory combines human-derived organoid models, primary cholangiocyte cultures, mouse models, and high-throughput transcriptomic and molecular analyses to dissect the mechanisms governing biliary epithelial cell function in health and disease. Current projects focus on the roles of endoplasmic reticulum stress, proteostasis, epithelial polarity, tight junction integrity, cytoskeletal remodeling, and intracellular signaling pathways involved in cholangiocyte injury and repair. In parallel, the laboratory investigates the interactions between biliary epithelial cells, the hepatic microenvironment, and immune and fibrogenic responses that drive disease progression.
By integrating mechanistic studies with translational approaches, the laboratory seeks to define the molecular basis of pediatric cholangiopathies, discover disease biomarkers, and develop innovative therapeutic strategies to promote biliary regeneration, limit fibrosis, and improve clinical outcomes for children with cholestatic liver disease.