Introduction

An interdisciplinary Liver Research Center was established at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1974 with support from NIDDK. The major objective is to understand fundamental mechanisms of normal liver function, and alterations in these functions resulting from metabolic disorders genetic diseases, acute and chronic liver injury, hepatitis virus infection, hepatic fibrosis and liver cancer, as well as to develop ways to overcome these abnormalities using state-of-the-art methods of genetic engineering, gene therapy and liver cell transplantation. By bringing excellent basic scientists into disease-related research, together with hepatologists interested in fundamental mechanisms of hepatic dysfunction, we believe that imaginative approaches to basic cell biology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of liver disease will emerge. The Center is comprised of an Administrative Core and 4 Research Core Facilities to support research by 38 Center Investigators in twelve Departments of the Medical School. These Investigators have broad expertise touching on virtually all areas of biomedical research including biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genetics, pathology and cell ultrastructure. The Center has a strong Pilot and Feasibility Study Program to support young investigators and develop new areas of research by established investigators It is the focus of an active research-oriented education program (research seminars, visiting scientists, pathobiology sessions and work-in-progress discussion groups), and has extensive collaborative studies with investigators in other institutions. The Center is directed by Dr. David A. Shafritz and Associate Director Dr. Allan W. Wolkoff, is governed by an Executive Committee, and is advised and reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee comprised of leading scientists in Hepatology research from other institutions.