Liver disease encompasses many conditions that affect the liver and its function. These range from liver fibrosis, the common non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and all the way to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Some patients progress very rapidly through the various stages of liver disease to liver cirrhosis while others are more protected. Understanding the genetics and genomics of this disease and the molecular changes that are associated with the development and progression of liver disease is the key to understanding mechanisms, developing diagnostics, and designing effective therapies.
This project will utilise state-of-the-art technology to examine the molecular and cellular changes that the liver undergoes during liver disease progression to identify novel biomarkers for early detection and targets for effective therapies. The project involves examining clinical samples to identify genetic variations associated with liver disease using next-generation sequencing technologies including Whole Exome Sequencing. The second exciting aspect of the project is the application of the novel Nanostring Digital Spatial Profiling Platform being established at the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to understand the spatial distribution and contribution of the molecular changes towards liver disease progression.
This project will result in substantial advances to our knowledge of liver disease and lead to the development of new biomarkers and eventually better personalised therapies for patients.