Hepatology Research Group
Dedicated to improving the understanding and treatment of liver disease
The hepatology research group (HRG) is an integral part of the Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine (ITSMed). We utilise state of the art laboratory facilities based in the John Bull Building, and the world class clinical research strengths of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHNT).
We work in unison with the South West Liver Unit, at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, providing a full range and secondary, tertiary and community Hepatology services to the South West region, including assessment for liver transplantation, TIPS and liver cancer therapy.
The research team run several commercially sponsored clinical trials in hepatitis C therapy, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), primary biliary cholangiopathy (PBC), alcoholic liver disease and liver failure amongst others, through the clinical research facilities of The Lind Research Centre at Derriford Hospital.
Download the Hepatology Research Group’s Annual Report 2017.
The broad themes of the hepatology research group are:
- Protection from hepatitis C virus infection – (principal investigator) PI Professor Matthew Cramp
- Lipid metabolism and the pathogenesis and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis – PI Dr David Sheridan
- Alcoholic hepatitis – PI Ashwin Dhanda
- Molecular virology of hepatitis C and other hepatitis viruses – PI Dr Dan Felmlee
Hepatology research areas
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Hepatitis C resistance
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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
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Alcohol-related hepatitis
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Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
Hepatology Research Group on Twitter Tweets from @HepatoPlymouth
Publications:
Williams R, Alexander G, Aspinall R, Bosanquet J, Camps-Walsh G, Cramp M, Day N, Dhawan A, Dillon J, Dyson J, Ferguson J, Foster G, Gardner R, Gilmore SI, Hardman L, Hudson M, Kelly D, Langford A, Liversedge S, Moriarty K, Newsome P, O'Grady J, Pryke R, Rolfe L, Rutter H, Ryder S, Samyn M, Sheron N, Taylor A, Thompson J, Verne J, Yeoman A (2017) ‘New metrics for the Lancet Standing Commission on Liver Disease in the UK’ Lancet 389, (10083) 2053-2080
Sheridan DA, Hajarizadeh B, Fenwick FI, Matthews GV, Applegate T, Douglas M, Neely D, Askew B, Dore GJ, Lloyd AR, George J, Bassendine MF, Grebely J. (2016) ‘Maximum levels of hepatitis C virus lipoviral particles are associated with early and persistent infection’ Liver Int. 36, (12) 1774-1782
Williams EL, Stimpson ML, Collins PL, Enki DG, Sinha A, Lee RW, Dhanda AD (2016) ‘Development and validation of a novel bioassay to determine glucocorticoid sensitivity’ Biomark Res. 4, 26
Swann RE, Mandalou P, Robinson MW, Ow MM, Foung SK, McLauchlan J, Patel AH, Cramp ME (2016) ‘Anti-envelope antibody responses in individuals at high risk of hepatitis C virus who resist infection’ J Viral Hepat. 23, (11) 873-880
Shariff MI, Kim JU, Ladep NG, Crossey MM, Koomson LK, Zabron A, Reeves H, Cramp M, Ryder S, Greer S, Cox IJ, Williams R, Holmes E, Nash K, Taylor-Robinson SD (2016) ‘Urinary Metabotyping of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a UK Cohort Using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy’ J Clin Exp Hepatol. 6, (3)186-194
Video interview / publication: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) susceptibility and resistance to infection
Complex interactions between HCV and host lipid metabolism may help explain difficulties in developing an effective vaccine.Read the publication / view the interview with Professor Matthew Cramp and Dr David Sheridan
Clinical trials
Therapeutic intervention trials and national registry studies for liver disease research and service delivery.
Meet the team
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Professor Matthew Cramp
Chair in Hepatology
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Dr David Sheridan
Associate Professor & Honorary Consultant in Hepatology
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Dr Ashwin Dhanda
Clinical Lecturer in Gastroenterology
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Dr Daniel Felmlee
Lecturer in Hepatology
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Dr Doha Hegazy
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Hepatology
research team
Meet the hepatology research team and our collaborators.
Find out more about our researchers
OPINION - The escalating cost of alcohol misuse, obesity and viral hepatitis
Liver disease has become one of the most common causes of premature death in the UK, with a cost not just in lives but also to health services and society.Read the full article from Matthew Cramp
Contact us
John Bull Building, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth, PL6 8BU
Patient participation group
Patient led group with the remit of supporting development clinical services in the South West Liver Unit and Hepatology Research in Plymouth.
To get involved or for more information please contact Jayne Davies jaynedavies@nhs.net.
For patient support please contact Friends of Liver Lifeline.