Understanding liver fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding liver fibrosis
IRAS ID
280527
Contact name
Selim Cellek
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Anglia Ruskin University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Liver fibrosis can be triggered by chronic alcoholism, obesity or viral diseases such as hepatitis. If not managed medically, it can progress to liver cirrhosis which is advanced, irreversible scarring of the liver and lead to associated complications such as liver failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and cancer. Although 40% of gastroenterology admissions nationally are due to liver disease and over £2 billion is spent per year on treating liver disease, no drugs are available to prevent or treat liver fibrosis. Currently, liver fibrosis is managed by aetiology specific interventions to stop or reduce the agents that cause liver damage. The aim of our research is to identify novel drugs for prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis. This will be achieved in the laboratory by utilising the cells isolated from liver biopsies obtained in this study.
Patients who have been listed for diagnostic liver biopsy by Dr Gavin Wright or one of his clinical team members at Basildon Hospital will be considered for the study. During this procedure, normally up to 1-2 biopsies are taken from the liver. The biopsy materials are then examined by a pathologist, to gain a better understanding of the patient's illness. We will be seeking the patients' consent to take one additional biopsy for the purposes of this research. The tissue obtained will be transferred to the research laboratories at Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford where the cellular structure and protein content will be analysed. Some of the tissue may also be used to isolate and grow cells. The cells and DNA obtained from tissue will NOT be transferred to another institution or company. The tissue will NOT be used for any genetic research that involves DNA.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NE/0215
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion