Our Centre for Hepatobiliary / Pancreatic Surgery offers the full range of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeries using both minimally invasive and conventional approaches.

We are also focused on research into stem cells for Liver Diseases. The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate itself. Possible candidate cells which may assist in this regenerative process include hepatoblasts / hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor (oval) cells, bone marrow derived cells, and in the case of cell therapy, allogeneic hepatocytes, allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. (click here for more information).

We are also researching into cell therapy for liver diseases including liver cirrhosis. Challenges in cell replacement therapy for liver cirrhosis include an aberrant liver infrastructure and excessive scar tissue. For more information, please refer to our published article:

MR Alison, C Choong, S Lim. Application of liver stem cells for cell therapy. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology 2007; 18:819–826.

We have recently commenced research into induced pluripotent stem cell technology as an autologous source of hepatocytes for potential application in the treatment of diseases such as acute liver failure, liver cirrhosis, inherited disorders of metabolism, liver cancer, toxicity testing, hepatropic viral studies and for bioartificial liver support. Current cell sources for use in bioartificial devices have included primary human hepatocytes, xenogeneic hepatocytes (porcine), and immortalised tumour cell lines. iPS cells may provide an attractive autologous source of cells for use in bioartificial devices. Liver regeneration remains a focus of our collaborative research efforts. Please refer to our publication:

MR Alison, S Islam, S Lim. Stem cells in liver regeneration, fibrosis and cancer: the good, the bad and the ugly. J Path 2009; 217:282-98.