Biliary Atresia | CHOP Research Institute

Spinner Laboratory

Research in the Spinner Lab focuses understanding the etiology and expressivity of pediatric developmental disorders. The lab uses genomic methods to focus on the multisystem disorder Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia, a likely heterogeneous and poorly understood condition.

Fred and Suzanne Biesecker Pediatric Liver Center

Researching the causes of liver diseases and new ways to treat children with these disorders using a bench-to-bedside approach that integrates clinical care, clinical research, and basic science research.

Elizabeth B. Rand, MD

Dr. Rand's research interests include clinical studies of biliary atresia and studies of immunization, immune suppression, and long-term outcome after transplantation. Her basic science interests in liver development and fibrosis are carried out as collaborations with scientists who utilize the liver tissue bank.

E-mail:

rand [at] chop.edu

Kathleen Loomes, MD

Dr. Loomes' research is focused on clinical and translational studies in pediatric liver disease. She works with National Institutes of Health-funded national consortia to conduct studies investigating the etiology and treatment for rare pediatric liver diseases including biliary atresia, Alagille syndrome, and others. Dr. Loomes also collaborates with other investigators at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to investigate genetic causes of pediatric liver disease.

E-mail:

loomes [at] chop.edu

Nancy B. Spinner, PhD

Dr. Spinner's research focuses on the etiology and expressivity of pediatric developmental disorders. She uses genomic methods to focus on the multisystem disorder Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia, a likely heterogeneous and poorly understood condition. She is also interested in using genomic tools to continue to improve diagnostic rates for constitutional genetic disorders.

E-mail:

spinner [at] chop.edu

Genetic Study Offers Clues About Rare Liver Disease Biliary Atresia

Published on

Apr 25, 2013

in Cornerstone Blog

A new genetic study may shed light on the causes of the rare childhood disease biliary atresia. The leading cause of liver transplantation in children, biliary atresia (BA) is a rare, life-threatening condition in which the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder become blocked.