UPMC Physicians and Researchers to Present at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Annual Meeting

October 30, 2019 UPMC and the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, UPMC Center for Liver Diseases, Hillman Center for Pediatric Transplantation at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition will be well-represented at the 2019 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Annual Meeting from November 8-12 in Boston, MA.

The event brings together more than 9,500 hepatologists and hepatology health professionals from around the globe to one location. The meeting will provide a forum to exchange the latest liver disease research, discuss treatment options, and network with colleagues.

Following is a list of courses, posters, and presentations to be delivered by physicians and researchers from UPMC.

Friday, Nov. 8 

Pediatric Liver Transplantation 
The Use of Urinary Biomarkers to Predict Acute Kidney Injury in Children After Liver Transplant 
8 a.m.
James E. Squires, MD, MS
 
AASLD/ILTS Transplant Course
Debate: Con: Liver Transplant for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
11:30 a.m.
Ramon Bataller, MD, PhD.

AASLD/NASPGHAN Pediatric Symposium 
Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Drivers and Consequences of Serious Acute Decompensation in Cirrhosis. 
1 p.m. 
James E. Squires, MD, MS 

Liver Cell Biology in Hepatic Diseases SIG
Basic Concepts of Liver Regeneration
2:05 p.m.
George K. Michalopoulos, MD, PhD

Saturday, Nov. 9

Basic Science Symposium – Program Chair: George K. Michalopoulos, MD, PhD
Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Pathways in Normal and Regenerating Liver 
8:05 a.m.  
George K. Michalopoulos, MD, PhD

Developmental Pathways in Liver Regeneration 
9:25 a.m.  
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, Md, FAASLD

Regeneration and Facultative Stem Cell Functions of Hepatocytes in Biliary Injury 
11:05 a.m.
Kari Nejak-Bowen, MBA, PhD 

PBC/PSC and Other Cholestatic Diseases 
Liver Adherents Junction Regulate Hepatocyte Polarity and Activation of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition  
2 p.m. 
Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd, PhD

Clinical Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma II 
Natural History and Treatment Responses in Mixed Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma: Does Liver Transplantation Impart a Survival Benefit?
2 p.m. 
Vikrant Rachakonda

Methodologies and Applications Related to iPSC Hepatocytes in Normal and Decellularized Livers  
3:55 p.m. 
Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez, MD, PhD 

Sunday, Nov. 10

WNT Signaling in Liver Development and Carcinogenesis 
6:30 a.m.  
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD 

Basic Fibrosis Research and Stellate Cell Biology
Hepatic Stellate Cell-Specific Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor Alpha Loss Reduces Fibrosis and Promotes Repair Following Hepatocellular Injury
Lack of B-Catenin in Hepatocytes Impairs Fibrosis Resolution After Choline-Deficient, Ethionine-Supplemented Diet-Induced Liver Injury
8 a.m. 
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD

Oncogene Cooperation in HCC Pathogenesis: Implications in Biology and Therapeutics 
8:25 a.m. 
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD

Living Donor Champion: Impact of a Novel Patient and Caregiver Support Program On Increasing Access to Live Donor Liver Transplants 
10:30 a.m. 
Swaytha Ganesh, MD

Elimination of WNT Secretion from Hepatic Stellate Cells Imparis Cyclin-D1 at Baseline and Hepatocyte Proliferation After Partial Hepatectomy 
4:45 p.m. 
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD

Monday, Nov. 11

Frailty and Sarcopenia in Cirrhosis: Measurement and Action  
6:45 a.m.   
Michael Dunn, MD 

Mechanisms of Injury 
Sickle Cell Disease Promotes Dysregulation of Hepatic Iron Metabolism
8 a.m.
Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd

Transport, Bilirubin, Cholesterol, Lipids, and Bile Salts
Impaired Bile Secretion Promotes Hepatobiliary Injury in Sickle Cell Disease 
8 a.m.
Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd

Cholangiocyte Biology 
Yap Deletion in Embryonic Foregut Endoderm Leads to Failure of Bile Duct Formation and Absence of Long-Term Biliary Regeneration 
8 a.m. 
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD

Hepatocarcinogenesis 
Elucidating the Therapeutic Effect of SOX-9 and/or Yap Elimination in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma 
8 a.m. 
Satdarshan (Paul) S. Monga, MD, FAASLD

Late-Breaking Abstract Poster Session
Use of Transient Elastography to Assess Allograft Quality in Deceased Liver Donors  
8 a.m.   
Andres Duarte-Rojo

Basic Debrief
4 p.m.  
Gavin Arteel, PhD 

Awards

James Squires, MD, received the 2019 Autoimmune Liver Disease Pilot Research Award from the AASLD Foundation for his project, “A Learning Health System for Pediatric Autoimmune Liver Disease Through Partnership with ImproveCareNow.” Dr. Squires will utilize the tested model of a Learning Healthcare System (LHS) to decrease variability and improve care for children with autoimmune liver disease. Learn more.

Annual Cocktail Reception

Additionally, Satdarshan (Paul) Monga, MD, Director, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center; Ramon Bataller, MD, PhD, Chief of Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; Swaytha Ganesh, MD, Medical Director, UPMC Living Donor Program, George Mazariegos, MD, Chief, Pediatric Transplantation, and James Squires, MD, Program Director, Pediatric Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Program will host a cocktail reception on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Boston Marriott Copley Place. 

Learn more about and RSVP to the adult and pediatric reception at AASLD.