Basic Sciences

Molecular Gastroenterology

 
Dr. Clifford Steer, Director of Molecular Gastroenterology, conducts research which primarily focuses on the liver. Over the last ten years, he has developed several models of liver regeneration and has been particularly interested in the role of mRNA stability in hepatocyte replication.  More recently, he has begun to focus his work on both gene therapy and gene repair for a variety of genetic diseases.  He and his colleagues have developed a novel approach to  precisely correct a genetic defect without the use of viral vectors.  In addition, they are also studying the delivery of trangenes through a different and very exciting non-viral method called, "Sleeping Beauty."  Presently, he is applying his gene therapy and gene repair techniques to a number of liver diseases, including hemophilia, Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, phenylketonuria, and certain lysosomal storage diseases.   Dr. Steer is also working on other hematologic disorders, such as sickle cell disease, von Willibrand's disease and beta-thalassemia.  He hopes to ultimately take his research from the bench to the bedside and begin several clinical studies here at the University of Minnesota.  In collaboration with several other faculty members, he has applied his gene therapy and repair technologies to neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease.  Most recently, he has been successful in altering gene sequences in utero.  In a separate arm of research, he has studied apoptotic cell death in both liver and brain cells. He and his colleagues have published several articles on the use of an endogenous bile acid to inhibit apoptosis.  Interestingly, he has applied it effectively in the treatment of acute stroke, as well as models of neurodegenerative diseases.  The potential to use this molecule therapeutically is very exciting because it has no toxic side effects.  Dr. Steer continues to do research on liver regeneration, mRNA stability and several other interesting areas involving the liver.  His research is both basic and translational in nature, and continues to be funded primarily through the NIH.  Dr. Steer would  like to acknowledge that his success is shared with the outstanding laboratory personnel he has worked with over the years.