Institute for Liver and Digestive Health

About us

The UCL Institute for Liver & Digestive Health is a major academic centre within the clinical consortium UCL-Partners (UCLP). We are one of the most international clinical research hubs in the world.

Our aim is to develop and implement an extensive network of clinical excellence in North-East London.

Contacts

We are based at the Royal Free campus in Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead.

Professor Dimitrios Anastasiou

Head of Department (Scientific Lead)

d.anastasiou@ucl.ac.uk

Professor Douglas Thorburn

Head of Department (Clinical Lead)

d.thorburn@ucl.ac.uk

We are also a major education site in Liver and Digestive Medicine. We provide training for UCL medical students, specialist registrars, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows from all over the world.

Most of our academic and clinical activities are currently based at the Royal Free Campus in Hampstead, one of the UK's largest Foundation NHS Trusts.

Team picture from the Institute of Liver and Digestive Health — The Pereira / Acedo Group (Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Cancer)

Research interests

Our research activities demonstrate a strong integration of clinical activities with laboratory expertise and biotechnological platforms. These span from very basic cellular and molecular biology to translational projects in Hepatology, Gastroenterology, HPB, Liver Transplant and Regenerative Medicine.

Fibrosis and Tissue Repair

Fibrosis and Tissue Repair

One of our concerns at the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health is tissue repair.

Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Cancer

Concept image of a tumour illuminated in the liver

Liver and Pancreaticobiliary Cancer

We investigate pancreaticobiliary diseases, with a focus on early detection and novel therapeutic strategies. Our group’s research activities span both basic/translational and clinical studies.

Liver Tissue Engineering

Liver Tissue Engineering

Our mission is to harness liver cells for therapeutic use. We aim to help treat patients who have severe / acute liver failure.

Cirrhosis

Graphic of a liver highlighted over a man with helix passing through a dark background

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver from working properly.

Opportunities

Hepatology at the Royal Free Hospital has a long tradition in hosting and training clinical and research fellows from all over the world - a great source of pride for us. We continue to welcome new fellows.

EASL Fellowships

The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) provides career-building opportunities for scientists, including a selection of EASL Fellowships.

Clinical posts

Male clinical profession in white coat and with arms folded

Clinical posts

Each year, we offer two full 12-month fixed-term senior clinical posts, which are mainly for clinical training and are available through competitive interview. Contact Emmanuel Tsochatzis for details.

Teaching

The Institute for Liver & Digestive Health is a major education site and provides training for UCL medical students, specialist registrars, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. We offer numerous postgraduate courses throughout the year at University College Hospital and The Royal Free Hospital.

Royal Free Sheila Sherlock Hepatology Course

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Save the date banner for the Royal Free Sheila Sherlock Hepatology Postgraduate Course, taking place virtually from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 March 2026. Includes UCL and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust logos and images of the liver and related medical graphics.

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The 13th Royal Free Sheila Sherlock Hepatology Course offers live, interactive virtual lectures for medical professionals to refresh and expand their hepatology knowledge.