Prof. Leo van Grunsven was appointed as full
time research professor in October 2009 and took over the promotorship
for most of the PhD students and research projects, after Prof.
Geerts had passed away in January 2009.
In general, the objectives are to contribute
to the characterization of the different liver cell types in healthy
and pathological conditions. More specifically, we want to gain
a better insight in the mechanisms of liver regeneration and the
pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension.
Eventually, with our studies, we are trying
to contribute to :
- the development of therapeutics for liver fibrosis and portal
hypertension,
- the development of autologous or allogeneic cell transplantation
techniques, and to treatment of chronic liver diseases via stimulation
of the proliferation of local progenitor cells (liver regeneration
as alternative for transplantation).
References.
1. de Leeuw, A.M., et al., Hepatology, 1984. 4(3): p. 392-403.
2. Geerts, A., et al., J Hepatol, 1989. 9(1): p. 59-68. 3. Geerts,
et al., 1990. 14(3): p. 247-56. 4. Geerts, A., et al., Hepatology,
1998. 27(2): p. 590-8. 5. Geerts, A., Semin Liver Dis, 2001.
21(3): p. 311-35. 6. Dollé L, et al.. J Hepatol.
2010 Jan;52(1):117-29. Epub 2009 Oct 28.
