Dr Naiara Beraza

Career track group leader

naiara.beraza@quadram.ac.uk

There is increasing evidence that chronic liver disease, characterised by inflammation, cirrhosis and ultimately cancer development, closely associates with intestinal dysfunction and changes in the microbiome composition.

Research in my group focuses on defining the mechanisms underpinning the gut-microbiome-liver axis communication during the initiation and progression of chronic disease, with a view to translate our findings to the clinical practice to treat liver disease and prevent cancer development.

We have recently described the mechanistic role of specific metabolic regulators in mediating the progression of chronic cholestatic disease. Also, we have defined the relevance of intestinal macrophages in regulating intestinal function and the composition of the microbiome that overall contribute to the progression of this chronic condition.

Taking advantage of our expertise and broad range of pre-clinical models of chronic liver disease, the collaboration with immunologists, microbiologists and bioinformaticians and our links with clinicians we are currently focusing on:

• Defining how metabolism regulates innate immunity and its impact on the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease.
• Understanding how host metabolism and immunity influence the intestinal microbiome and its contribution to the initiation and progression of liver disease.
• Testing therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of the microbiome to treat chronic liver disease and prevent cancer development.

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