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Principal Investigator: Holger Willenbring
Organization: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
Fiscal Year: 2024
Award: $1,211,250
Funding agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – UCSF LIVER CENTER
The Liver Center at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is an interdisciplinary consortium of 56
basic and clinical scientists dedicated to understanding liver biology and contributing new knowledge about the
pathophysiology and treatment of liver diseases. The mission of the Center is “to enable scientific discovery
and exchange to improve the lives of patients with liver disease”. The Center membership is nearly evenly
split between basic and clinical/translational scientists: 50% are women and 59% are practicing physicians. The
composition of the Liver Center is constantly evolving, with 46% of its research base being new since 2017 and
26% of the base comprising Assistant Professors or equivalent junior scientists. The research being conducted
in the Center is grouped into three themes: Liver Injury & Immunology, which includes scientists who study
specific viral, toxic and autoimmune disorders as well as investigators who explore fundamental principles in
liver immune responses and fibrosis; Liver Metabolism & Organ Cross-Talk, which features members who
concentrate on metabolism in the liver and organs that interact with the liver and thereby impact liver health; and
Liver Regeneration & Clinical Transplantation, which comprises researchers whose interests revolve around liver
cell and organ growth, ranging from homeostasis to cancer to transplantation. The overarching goal of the Liver
Center is to facilitate significant progress in basic and clinical liver research. The Center will accomplish
this goal by supporting four Biomedical Research Cores: (1) the Liver Cell Isolation, Analysis & Immunology
Core, (2) the Liver Tissue Analysis Core, (3) a new Liver Gene Analysis Core and (4) the Patient-Facing
Research Core. In addition, the Center’s Enrichment Program will foster a vibrant community of liver
researchers to stimulate exchange of knowledge and ideas through seminars by visiting scientists, mini-
symposia highlighting specific member constituencies and an annual symposium featuring the progress of the
entire membership. All of these programs will focus on diversity and showcase young scientists who are
emerging leaders in the field. Throughout the year the Center’s Administrative Core will maintain member
connections and inform of new developments through newsletters and a comprehensive website. To sustain a
trajectory of growth in liver research, the Center will develop promising new investigators using several
means. Its Pilot & Feasibility Grant Program will provide seed money and mentorship to junior investigators and
scientists new to liver research; its Enrichment Program will also contribute by hosting career development
workshops and by enlisting senior faculty to conduct pre-submission review and critique of grant proposals.
Lastly, the new California DDRCC Network has created a platform to showcase early-stage investigators and
encourage state-wide networking. The numerous activities of the Liver Center could not be possible without
strong support from the UCSF leadership and NIDDK. With their backing, the Liver Center can succeed in its
mission to foster innovation and collaboration among its members as they pursue advances in liver research.
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