The Transplant Research Program currently focuses on the following research projects:

1. Establishing cell sources for bioartifical liver devices or cell transplantation.
2. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells along a hepatocyte lineage.
3. Glucose biosensor and its employment in an artificial pancreas.
4. Gene therapy for liver transplantation.
5. Pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, including molecular and gene therapies.
6. Diagnosis and treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
7. Pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease and development of innovative therapeutics.
8. Laser spectroscopy to evaluate organ rejection.
9. Immunologic bases of organ rejection

Mark A. Zern, M.D.
Professor of Medicine,
The Fred and Pat Anderson Family Professor of Transplant Research,
Director, Transplant Research Program
(916) 734-8063
e-mail: mazern@ucdavis.edu

Richard V. Perez, M.D.
Professor of Surgery,
Chief of Clinical Transplantation
(916) 734-2679
e-mail: rvperez@ucdavis.edu

Jian Wu, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Adjunct Professor of Medicine
(916) 734-8044
e-mail: jdwu@ucdavis.edu

Christoph Toppmann, M.D.
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Transplant Surgery
(916) 734-7283
e-mail: christoph.troppmann@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Natalie Torok, M.D., M.Sci.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
(916) 734-0939
e-mail: natalie.torok@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Brian Galley, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine, Transplant Medicine
(916) 734-8713
e-mail: brian.galley@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu

Senthil K. Venugopal, Ph.D.
Assistant Adjunct Professor of Medicine
(916) 734-8071
e-mail: skvenugopal@ucdavis.edu