The research programme of INSERM U785 includes mechanistic studies of hepatobiliary diseases and valorisation/development studies in the prospect of clinical applications, and covers two main themes :
- Liver regeneration and Primary liver cancer
- Molecular virology and auto-alloimmunity in liver transplantation.

Liver Regeneration and Primary Liver Cancer

Theme I “Liver Regeneration and Primary Liver Cancer” aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fate (proliferation/apoptosis/differentiation) of hepatic cells during liver regeneration and carcinogenesis, and includes translational researches for the management of patients with acute liver failure and primary liver cancer.

The "Liver regeneration" sub-theme focuses on the pathogenesis and treatment of acute liver failure of various aetiologies (toxic, viral, autoimmune), and liver regeneration in living donors for liver transplantation.

The "Primary liver cancer" sub-theme deals with the pathogenesis and treatment of the two main liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma, and focuses on the identification and characterisation of new molecular markers for the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of these cancers.

Molecular virology and auto/alloimmunity in Liver Transplantation

Theme II "Molecular Virology and Auto/alloimmunity in Liver Transplantation" concerns the viral and immune disorders which occur in the context of liver transplantation, and includes:

• molecular-virology studies of HBV and HCV in patients with HCC or in transplant recipients, and
  
• molecular studies of auto/alloimmune hepatitis and liver graft rejection following transplantation.
  

INSERM U785 forms part of the André Lwoff Federative Research Institute at Hopital Paul-Brousse, and is also a European Associated Laboratory (EAL) working with the Laboratory of Gene Expression (LGE; Professor M. Levrero) at University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.