Thomas E. Starzl Transplant Surgery State-of-the-Art
What Is Critical for Liver Surgery and Partial Liver Transplantation – Size or Quality?
Sunday, November 1
9:30 – 10:00 am
Pierre Clavien, MD, PhD
Coming Soon: This programming will be available for online viewing as part of the Best of the Liver Meeting following The Liver Meeting® 2009
A rigorous and creative investigator, Dr. Clavien is widely recognized as among the world’s most accomplished academic surgeons. Dr. Clavien’s elegant investigations spanning the spectrum from basic liver biology to animal models of liver injury and regeneration have clarified our understanding of hepatic growth and transplantation, leading to fundamental new surgical approaches and paradigms of management for patients with liver disease. As an inspiring surgeon, scientist and academic leader, Dr. Clavien’s contributions have helped redefine the scientific basis for liver surgery. The Starzl State-of-the-Art Lecture encapsulates these fundamental new advances, and epitomizes the concept of ‘bench to bedside’ research.
Goals and Objectives:
- Clarify pathways of liver regeneration, which are relevant for the clinician.
- Recognize small-for-size syndrome in patients after partial liver transplantation and
major surgery.
- Appreciate risk factors associated with small-for-size syndrome after surgery.
- Identify protective strategies against small-for-size syndrome.
- Understand the role of serotonin and platelets in liver regeneration.
Hans Popper Basic Science State-of-the-Art
The Biology and Therapeutic Potential of Small RNAs
Sunday, November 1
Noon – 12:30 pm
Phillip A. Sharp, PhD
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1993 for his co-discovery of eukaryotic gene splicing, Dr. Sharp remains a pioneer in understanding the biology and therapeutic applications of RNA. He is currently Institute Professor at MIT and formerly Director of MIT's Center for Cancer Research. His current studies continue to advance the boundaries of science by using RNAi technology to identify specific proteins important for the regulation of alternative RNA splicing and transcription. In his capacity as a co-founder of Biogen and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, he is overseeing groundbreaking programs that employ RNAi strategies to treat a range of human diseases. The profound significance of his career's work and their translational implications make Dr. Sharp a uniquely qualified honoree to give the Hans Popper Basic Science State-of-the-Art Lecture.
Goals and Objectives:
- Present a synthesis of the remarkable recent discoveries of the various roles of small RNAs in normal and disease processes.
- Outline the potential development of small RNAs as therapeutic agents to modify disease processes.
Hyman J. Zimmerman Hepatotoxicity State-of-the-Art
Bioartificial Livers and Their Potential Use in Drug Toxicity Screening
Monday, November 2
10:00 – 10:30 am
Linda Griffith, PhD
Recognized by a Macarthur Foundation “Genius Award” in 2006 for her pioneering work in the development of bioengineered liver systems, Dr Griffith’s work promises to revolutionize drug discovery and toxicity detection. The push for higher throughput systems while maintaining physiological function is driving development of tissue engineered models that leverage advances in biomaterials, microfabrication, and microfluidics to capture tissue complexity in relatively accessible formats amenable to creation of human tissue. Such models will likely play a substantial role in evaluating how new classes of molecular therapeutics (e.g. RNAi) interact with liver. Coupled to these advances in culture models are parallel advances in computational systems biology of liver, enabling efficient design of experiments to extract information about acute and chronic responses of liver to infectious agents, drugs, and genetic aberrations. The Zimmerman Hepatotoxicity State-of-the-Art Lecture will highlight this ‘brave new world’ of bioengineering being accelerated by Dr. Griffith’s studies.
Leon Schiff State-of-the-Art
Hemochromatosis - a New Disease Paradigm
Tuesday, November 3
9:45 – 10:15 am
Antonello Pietrangelo, MD, PhD
Dr. Pietrangelo’s elegant work in uncovering the molecular basis of iron homeostasis has contributed to a fundamental new understanding of disorders of iron metabolism, especially hereditary hemochromatosis. By drawing on a rich background of both basic and translational research achievements, Dr. Pietrangelo has redefined our understanding of iron regulation by developing a paradigm that parallels the defects in insulin and glucose homeostasis associated with diabetes mellitus. His elegant approach provides a rational framework for understanding the pathophysiologic and genetic basis for hereditary hemochromatosis, and optimizing its detection and treatment. The Schiff lecture will provide an enlightened and new understanding for clinicians in order to manage the liver’s most common genetic disease.
Goals and Objectives:
- Recognize signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH).
- Discuss the varying genetic causes of HH and their clinical expressivity.
- Understand the common pathogenic basis of different forms of hereditary hemochromatosis syndromes.
- Be able to plan a workup for diagnosis and treatment of HH.
- Understand issues surrounding phenotypic penetrance in HFE-associated HH.