I currently research the structure and function of liver organoids, miniature liver-like structures grown in the laboratory. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) or cells isolated from human liver tissue, we aim to establish a possible strategy against liver disease.

I’m interested in delivering these organoids into the body to ultimately assist in regenerating the liver and its associated structures (including bile ducts and blood vessels) by utilising a patient’s own cells.

Vascular Biology

As part of the Institute's O'Brien Department, our main research focus is generating human blood vessels for integration in various human tissues grown in the laboratory, including human skin and small pieces of human liver (liver organoids). We also study the structure and function of these lab-generated human tissues.

Lab head: Associate Professor Geraldine Mitchell Lab co-head: Dr Kiryu Yap

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Selected publications

Dobric, A., De Luca, SN., Spencer, SJ., Bozinovski, S., Saling, MM., McDonald, CF., Vlahos, R. (2022). Novel pharmacological strategies to treat cognitive dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 108017.

Dobric, A., De Luca, SN., Seow, HJ., Wang, H., Brassington, K., Chan, SMH., Mou, K., Erlich, J., Liong, S., Selemidis, S., Spencer, SJ., Bozinovski, S., Vlahos, R. (2022). Cigarette smoke exposure induces neurocognitive impairments and neuropathological changes in the hippocampus. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 15:893083.

De Luca, SN., Chan, SMH., Dobric, A… Vlahos, R. (2023). Cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary impairment is associated with social recognition memory impairments and alterations in microglial profiles within the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 109:292-307.

Brassington, K., Chan, SMH., De Luca, SN., Dobric, A… Vlahos, R. (2022). Ebselen abolishes vascular dysfunction in influenza A virus-induced exacerbations of cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice. Clinical Science, CS20211090

Brassington,K., Chan, S. M, Seow, H J., Dobric, A., Selemidis, S., Bozinovski, S., & Vlahos, R. (2021). Ebselen reduces cigarette smoke-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction in mice. British Journal of Pharmacology, 178(8): 1805-1818.