LIVER DISEASE
Health First Liver disease research is rapidly evolving, with a major focus on non-invasive diagnostics and targeted therapies for fatty liver disease (SLD/MASH), viral hepatitis, and liver cancer. Major medical centers and consortia are currently testing new pharmacological treatments, regenerative medicine, and gene-based therapies aimed at halting and reversing liver fibrosis.
Our Scientists at Health First are exploring the cellular mechanisms behind liver scarring. For instance, studies into how iron-binding proteins like ferritin interact with hepatic stellate cells are opening doors for new anti-inflammatory treatments that could disrupt fibrosis.
Investigators are moving away from invasive liver biopsies toward precision diagnostics. Research is heavily concentrated on liquid biopsies, metabolomic profiling, and advanced elastography to allow for continuous monitoring of disease progression.
Efforts are actively underway to close treatment disparities and develop better surveillance methods for high-risk populations, utilizing DNA microarrays and blood cell analysis to predict responses to therapies and detect tumors earlier.