Stuart Forbes Research Group
Liver stem cells and regeneration
Our research concentrates on understanding how the liver regenerates in chronic disease and how this process becomes deranged in the development of liver cancer.
Professor Stuart Forbes
Centre Director
Contact details
- Work: 0131 651 9510 (PA)
- Email: IRR-Director@ed.ac.uk
- Web: Personal Profile
Aims and areas of interest
By understanding what controls liver regeneration in chronic injury our group aims to be able to promote healthy liver regeneration and reduce the formation of liver cirrhosis and cancer. There are 3 linked programs of research:
- Basic biology of the hepatic progenitor cell niche
- Cell therapy for liver regeneration
- The Liver Cancer niche in cholangiocarcinoma.
More information
Liver disease is the 5th commonest cause of death in the UK and the deaths from cirrhosis are rapidly rising. Currently the only curative option for end-stage liver disease is liver transplantation. Donor organ availability cannot even meet current demand and many patients die whilst waiting for a suitable organ. Alternative therapeutic strategies are urgently required for the treatment of advanced liver disease.
The normal liver regenerates through division of mature hepatocytes. However, in chronic liver injury this capacity is lost. Fortunately we have a second tier of cells that can regenerate the liver- the Hepatic Progenitor Cells (HPCs or oval cells). These bipotential progenitor cells can give rise to both hepatocytes and biliary epithelium but may also be a potential source of liver cancer.
Macrophage Cell Therapy Clinical Trials
Prof Forbes and his team are currently developing a new macrophage cell therapy for liver cirrhosis.
- Video: Potential cell therapy for liver cirrhosis - Safety clinical trial
- Professor Stuart Forbes describes the first safety clinical trial of a new macrophage cell therapy for liver cirrhosis.
Related activities
Prof Stuart Forbes is also a member of the Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh and the NHS Scottish Liver Transplant Unit.
Centre for Inflammation Research
NHS Scottish Liver Transplant Unit
Group Members
Melisande Addison (Visiting Research Fellow)
Rhona Aird (Reseach Assistant)
Candice Ashmore-Harris (Postdoc Research Fellow)
Maria Elena Candela (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Marisa Ferreira (ECAT-Plus/Wellcome Trust PhD for Clinicians Training Fellow)
Sofia Ferreira Gonzalez (Postdoc)
Victoria Gadd (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Alison Glover (Research Coordinator)
John Hallett (Clinical Lecturer)
Marieke Hoeve (Postgraduate Teaching & Funding Development Manager; Director of MSc by Research in Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Repair)
Alistair Kilpatrick (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Janet Man (Senior research assistant)
Mark MacMillan (PhD Student)
Robin Morton (UKRMP ECE Hub Project Manager)
Daniel Rodrigo Torres (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Gillian Singh (PhD Student)
Collaborators
- Prof John Iredale, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Luke Boulter, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh
- Prof Owen Sansom, The Beatson Insitute, Glasgow
- Prof Tania Roskams, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Dr Ken Simpson, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh
- Dr Tim Kendall, Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh