Liver diseases are a major challenge to human health. It is possible to transplant liver cells (hepatocytes) and enable them to colonize and repair a damaged liver, and animal models for this process are under study in the Institute.
We are investigating the differentiation of hepatocytes from embryonic stem cells, and the formation of the hepatocytes and bile duct cells from embryonic liver precursors. We are also interested in the molecular and genetic factors that can convert liver cells to pancreatic cells, and vice versa.