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Professor Jacob GeorgeProfessor Jacob George

Director Storr Liver Unit

Professor Jacob George is Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney. He graduated MBBS from the University of Queensland (University Medal) in 1984.

 

He trained in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and undertook a PhD at the University of Sydney on cirrhosis and hepatic cytochrome P450 expression in man.

 

He was the recipient of an NHMRC Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship (1995-1997) and undertook postdoctoral research at the University of California San Francisco. He received the American Liver Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (1996).

 

In 1998, Prof George was appointed Senior Lecturer in Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital.

 

In 2000 he was appointed Director of Clinical Hepatology at Westmead Hospital and in 2005 was appointed Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatic Medicine and Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Westmead Hospital.

 

Click here for information on the Storr Liver Unit.

 

Research Interests

 

Prof George undertakes basic and clinical research on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis.

 

He is also researching the molecular and cellular basis for disease progression in chronic hepatitis C.

 

His work on human hepatic cytochrome P450 expression was the first to demonstrate the existence of disease-specific alterations in hepatic drug metabolism in cirrhosis.

 

In the United States, he published seminal papers on the central role of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) in fibrogenesis.

 

Since return to Australia, Prof George has worked on fibrosis in NASH, with particular regard to the role of oxidative stress. He has established the Westmead NASH and HCV databases. These cohorts collectively comprise >500 patients and are the subject of multiple publications.

 

 

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Publications

- 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 -2000 -

2007

  • Cua IHY, Hui JM, Kench JG, McCaughan G, George J. Genotype-specific interactions of insulin resistance, steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. (In Press).
  • Poustchi H, Negro F, Hui J, Kench J, George J. Insulin resistance and treatment response: role in genotypes 2 and 3 chronic HCV infection. J Hepatology (In press)
  • Cua IHY, Hui J, Bandara P, Kench J, Farrell G, McCaughan GW and George J. Insulin Resistance and Liver Injury in Hepatitis C Is Not Associated with Virus-Specific Changes in Adipocytokines. Hepatology 2007;46:66-73. [Abstract]
  • van der Poorten D, George J. Current and novel therapies for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatol Int (In Press)
  • van der Poorten D, Kenny D, Butler T, George J. Liver Disease in Adolescents: A Cohort Study of High-Risk Individuals. Hepatology (In Press)
  • Robotin M, George J, Supramaniam R, Sitas F, Penman A. Preventing Primary Liver Cancer: How well are we faring towards a National Hepatitis B Strategy? Med J Aust (In Press).
  • Razali K, Thein H, Bell J, Cooper-Stanbury M, Dolan K, Dore G, George J, Kaldor J, Karvelas M, Jiong L, Maher L, McGregor S, Hellard M, Poeder F, Quaine J, Stewart K, Tyrell H, Weltman M, Westcott O, Wodak A, Law M. Modelling the hepatitis C virus epidemic in Australia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence [Abstract].
  • George J, Liddle C. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: pathogenesis and potential for nuclear receptors as therapeutic targets. Mol Pharm (In Press).

  • Angulo P, Hui J, Marchesini G, Bugianesi E, George J, et al. The NAFLD Fibrosis Score: A simple non-invasive system that accurately identifies liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology, 2007;45:846-854. [Abstract]

  • London RM, George J. Pathogenesis of NASH: Animal Models.Clinics in Liver Disease 11 (2007) 55-74

2006

  • E. Bugianesi, G. Marchesini, E. Gentilcore, I.H.Y. Cua, E. Vanni, M. Rizzetto, J. George. Fibrosis in Genotype 3 Chronic Hepatitis C and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Role of insulin Resistance and Hepatic Steatosis. Hepatology 2006;44:1648-1655 [Abstract]

  • Wang, J, Batey, R, George, J. Role of ethanol in the regulation of hepatic stellate cell function. World journal of gastroenterology : WJG. 2006; 12:6926-6932 [Abstract]

  • Cua, I, Kwan, V, Henriquez, M, Kench, J, George, J. Long term suppressive therapy with pegylated interferon for chronic hepatitis C associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Gut. 2006; 55:1521-2 [Abstract]

  • Salmond, S, George, J, Strasser, S, Batey, R. Hep573 study of complementary medicine for chronic hepatitis C. Journal of Clinical Virology. 2006; 36:S134-S135 [Abstract]

  • Leandro, G, Mangia, A, Hui, J, Fabris, P, Rubbia-Brandt, L, Colloredo, G, Adinolfi, L, Asselah, T, Jonsson, J, Smedile, A, Terrault, N, Pazienza, V, Giordani, M, Giostra, E, Sonzogni, A, Ruggiero, G, Marcellin, P, Powell, E, George, J, Negro, F, , H. Relationship between steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Gastroenterology. 2006; 130:1636-42 [Abstract]

  • George, J. Angiopoietin-like proteins: another player in the metabolic field. Journal of hepatology. 2006; 44:832-4 [Abstract]
  • Cua IH and George J. Interpretation of abnormal liver tests in patients with diabetes. Diabetes Management Journal 2006; 14: 30.

2005

  • Dela Peña, A, Leclercq, I, Field, J, George, J, Jones, B, Farrell, G. NF-kappaB activation, rather than TNF, mediates hepatic inflammation in a murine dietary model of steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2005; 129:1663-74 [Abstract]

  • Adams, L, Bulsara, M, Rossi, E, DeBoer, B, Speers, D, George, J, Kench, J, Farrell, G, McCaughan, G, Jeffrey, G. Hepascore: an accurate validated predictor of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection. Clinical chemistry. 2005; 51:1867-73 [Abstract]

  • Kumar, D, Farrell, G, Kench, J, George, J. Hepatic steatosis and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. 2005; 20:1395-400 [Abstract]

  • Bandara, P, George, J, McCaughan, G, Naidoo, D, Lux, O, Salonikas, C, Kench, J, Byth, K, Farrell, G. Antioxidant levels in peripheral blood, disease activity and fibrotic stage in chronic hepatitis C. Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver. 2005; 25:518-26 [Abstract]

  • Perry, J, Poustchi, H, George, J, Farrell, G, McCaughan, G, Strasser, S. Current approaches to the diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical and experimental medicine. 2005; 5:1-13 [Abstract]

2004

  • Kwan, V, George, J. Liver disease due to parenteral and enteral nutrition. Clinics in liver disease. 2004; 8:893-913, ix-x [Abstract]

  • Hui, J, Hodge, A, Farrell, G, Kench, J, Kriketos, A, George, J. Beyond insulin resistance in NASH: TNF-alpha or adiponectin?. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). 2004; 40:46-54 [Abstract]

  • Sud, A, Hui, J, Farrell, G, Bandara, P, Kench, J, Fung, C, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, McCaughan, G, George, J. Improved prediction of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C using measures of insulin resistance in a probability index. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). 2004; 39:1239-47 [Abstract]

  • Coverdale, S, Khan, M, Byth, K, Lin, R, Weltman, M, George, J, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, Kench, J, Crewe, E, Farrell, G. Effects of interferon treatment response on liver complications of chronic hepatitis C: 9-year follow-up study. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2004; 99:636-44 [Abstract]

  • Chitturi, S, Farrell, G, George, J. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in the Asia-Pacific region: future shock?. Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. 2004; 19:368-74 [Abstract]

  • McCaughan, G, George, J. Fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Gut. 2004; 53:318-21 [Abstract]

  • McCaughan GW and George J.  Fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.  Gut 2004; 53: 318-321.

  • Hui JM, Farrell GC, Kench JG and George J.  High sensitivity C-reactive protein values do not reliably predict the severity of histological change in NAFLD.  Hepatology 2004; 39: 1458-1459.
  • Farrell GC, George J, Hall P de La M and McCullough.  Overview: An introduction to NASH and related fatty liver disorders. In: Fatty Liver Disease: NASH and Related Disorders.  2004, Chapter 1: 1-11.
  • George J and Farrell GC.  Practical approach to the diagnosis and management of people with fatty liver diseases. In: Fatty Liver Disease: NASH and Related Disorders.  2004, Chapter 15: 181-193.
  • Chitturi S and George J.  NAFLD/NASH is not just a ‘Western’ problem: some perspectives on NAFLD/NASH from the East. In: Fatty Liver Disease: NASH and Related Disorders.  2004, Chapter 18: 218-228.
  • Kirsch R, Hall P de la M, George J, McCullough AJ and Farrell GC.  Recent advances. In: Fatty Liver Disease: NASH and Related Disorders.  2004, Chapter 24: 289-302.
  • Zeuzem S, Diago M, Gane E, Reddy KR, et al. for the PEGASYS Study NR16071 Investigator Group.  Peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kilodaltons) and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and normal aminotransferase levels.  Gastroenterology 2004; 127: 1724-1732.

2003

  • Perry, J, Strasser, S, George, J, Farrell, G, McCaughan, G. Pharmacotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opinion On Pharmacotherapy. 2003; 4(12):2175-2185
  • Hui, J, Sud, A, Farrell, G, Bandara, P, Byth, K, Kench, J, McCaughan, G, George, J. Insulin resistance is associated with chronic Hepatitis C and virus infection fibrosis progression. Gastroenterology. 2003; 125:1695-1704
  • Kumar, D, Wallington-Beddoe, C, George, J, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, Farrell, G. Effectiveness of interferon alfa-2b/ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hapatitis c in a clinic setting. Medical Journal Of Australia. 2003; 178:267-271
  • George, J, Pera, N, Phung, T, Leclercq, I, Hou, J, Farrell, G. Lipid peroxidation, stellate cell activation and hepatic fibrogenesis in a rat model of chronic steatohepatitis. Journal Of Hepatology. 2003; 39:756-764
  • Coverdale, S, Samarasinghe, D, Lin, R, Kench, J, Byth, K, Khan, M, Crewe, E, Liddle, C, George, J, Farrell, G. Changes in antipyrine clearance and platelet count, but not conventional liver tests, correlate with fibrotic change in chronic hepatitis C: value for predicting fibrotic progression. American Journal Of Gastroenterology. 2003; 98(6):1384-1390
  • Hui, J, Kench, J, Chitturi, S, Sud, A, Farrell, G, Byth, K, Hall, P, Khan, M, George, J. Long term outcomes of cirrhosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis compares with hepatitis c. Hepatology. 2003; 38:420-427
  • George J. Invited Book Review – Hepatitis C: An Australian perspective. Eds. N Crofts, G Dore and S Locarnini. Internal Medicine J 2003; 33: 64.
  • Teoh N and George J. Letter to the Editor: Alcoholic liver disease: the AST and ALT of it all. Medicine Today 2003, 4: 113 ( see MedicineToday 2002; 3: 58-67).
  • Lee D, Chitturi S, Kench J, George J, Fuller S, Bradstock K, Lin R, Wong KP and Young N. Transjugular liver biopsy effecting changes in clinical management. Australasian Radiology 2003; 47: 117-120

  • Shao R, Shi Z, Gotwals PJ, Koteliansky VE, George J and Rockey DC. Cell and molecular regulation of endothelin-1 production during hepatic wound healing. Mol Biol Cells 2003; 14:2327-2341

  • Teoh N and George J. Evaluating abnormal liver tests. Medicine Today (Middle East Edition) 2003; 20: 25-32

  • Chitturi S and George J. Interaction of iron, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Current Gastroenterology 2003, 5: 18-25

2002

  • Hui, J, George, J, Liddle, C, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Crewe, E, Farrell, G. Changes in Serum Albumin During Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B With Lamivudine: Effects of Response and Emergence of Drug Resistance. American Journal Of Gastroenterology. 2002; 97:1003-1009
  • Chitturi, S, George, J, Ranjitkumar, S, Kench, J, Benson, W. Exchange Transfusion for Severe Intrahepatic Cholestasis Associated With Sickle Cell Disease. Journal Of Clinical Gastroenterology. 2002; 35:362-363
  • Alonso, C, George, J, Pesce, C, Bissell, D, Kornblihtt, A. Fibronectin transcription in liver cells: promoter occupation and function in sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes. Biochemical And Biophysical Research Communications. 2002; 295:1077-1084
  • Hui, J, Kench, J, Farrell, G, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, Byth, K, George, J. Genotype-specific mechanisms for hepatic steatosis in chronic hepatitis C infection. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2002; 17:873-881
  • Chitturi, S, Le, V, Kench, J, Loh, C, George, J. Gliclazide-Induced Acute Hepatitis with Hypersensitivity Features. Digestive Diseases And Sciences. 2002; 47:1107-1110
  • Hui, J, Kench, J, Farrell, G, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, Byth, K, George, J. Hepatic Steatosis in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection. Journal Of Gastroenterology And Hepatology. 2002; 17:873-881
  • Kumar, D, Farrell, G, Fung, D, George, J. Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3 is Cytopathic to Hepatocytes: Reversal of Hepatic Steatosis after Sustained Therapeutic Response. Hepatology. 2002; 36:1266-1272
  • Chitturi, S, George, J. Hepatotoxicity of Commonly Used Drugs: nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Antihypertensives, Antidiabetic Agents, Anticonvulsants, Lipid-Lowering Agents, Psychotropic Drugs. Seminars In Liver Disease. 2002; 22:169-183
  • Chitturi, S, Weltman, M, Farrell, G, McDonald, D, Liddle, C, Samarasinghe, D, Lin, R, Abeygunasekera, S, George, J. HFE Mutations, Hepatic Iron, and Fibrosis: Ethnic-Specification Association of NASH with C282Y but not with Fibrotic Severity. Hepatology. 2002; 36:142-149
  • Chitturi, S, Abeygunasekera, S, Farrell, G, Holmes-Walker, J, Hui, J, Fung, D, Karim, R, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C, Weltman, M, George, J. NASH and Insulin Resistance: Insulin Hypersecretion and Specific Association with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. Hepatology. 2002; 35:373-379
  • Chitturi, S, Farrell, G, Frost, L, Kriketos, A, Lin, R, Liddle, C, Samarasinghe, D, George, J. Serum leptin in NASH correlates with hepatic steatosis but not fibrosis: a mnifestation of lipotoxicity?. Hepatology. 2002; 36:403-409
  • Wong, V, Fu, A, George, J, Cheung, N. Two forms of thyrotoxicosis induced by alpha-interferon therapy in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. Clinical Endocrinology. 2002; 56:793-798 .
  • Singal D K and George J. Chronic hepatitis C. Australian Doctor 15 February2002.

  • Farrell GC, Robertson G, Leclercq I, George J, Weltman M, Liddle C. Inducible cytochromes P450 and lipid peroxidation in NASH (NASH 2000).

  • Alonso CR, George J, Pesce CG, Bissell DM and Kornblihtt AR. Fibronectin transcription in liver cells: promoter occupation and function in sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 2002; 295: 1077-1084.

  • Teoh N and George J. Evaluating patients who have abnormal liver tests. Invited Review. MedicineToday 2002; 3: 58-67. (See also Letter to the Editor Medicine Today 2003, 4: 113.).

2001

  • Chitturi, S, Hui, J, Salisbury, E, Mitchell, D, George, J. Abdominal pain in an intrauterine contraceptive devise user. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 2001; 42 (3):253-266
  • Phung, N, Farrell, G, Robertson, G, George, J. Antioxidant therapy with vitamin E ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in MCDD-associated NASH. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 33:248-251
  • Chitturi, S, Abeygunasekera, S, Fung, C, Samarasinghe, D, Lin, R, McDonald, D, Weltman, M, Farrell, G, George, J. Haemochromatosis gene mutations, hepatic iron content and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2001; 19:1768-1778
  • Leclercq, I, Field, J, George, J, Farrell, G, Robertson, G. Leptin is an essential mediator of hepatic fibrogenesis and liver regeneration in chronic CCl4-induced liver injury. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 24:51-59
  • Pera, N, Phung, N, Leclercq, I, Farrell, G, George, J. Oxidative stress and the evolution of hepatic fibrogenesis in a rodent model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 21:140-151
  • Coverdale, S, Samarasinghe, D, Lin, R, Kench, J, Byth, K, Khan, M, Crewe, E, Liddle, C, George, J, Farrell, G. Prediction of histological progression in chronic hepatitis C. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 10:182-189
  • George, J, Hui, J, Farrell, G, Kench, J, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D. Predictors fo rsteatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Journal of Hepatology. 2001; 12:365-371
  • George, J, Hui, J, Farrell, G, Kench, J, Lin, R, Samarasinghe, D, Liddle, C. Predictors for steatosis and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C. Journal of Hepatology. 2001; 35:822-826
  • Chitturi, S, Frost, L, Farrell, G, Liddle, C, Samarasinghe, D, Lin, R, George, J. Serum Leptin: An independent predictor of hepatic steatosis but not fibrotic severity in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2001; 174:271-275
  • Pera, N, Phung, N, Leclercq, I, Farrell, G, George, J. The role of oxidative stress in the evolution of hepatic fibrogenesis in a rodent model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2001; 54:624-630
  • Pera, N, Phung, N, Leclercq, I, Farrell, G, George, J. This role of oxidative stress in the evolution of hepatic fibrogenesis in a rodent model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Hepatology. 2001; 35:756-764
  • Bissell, D, Roulot, D, George, J. Transforming growth factor B and the liver. Hepatology. 2001; 21:27-40
  • Phung, N, Farrell, G, Robertson, G, George, J. Vitamin E but not glutathione precursors ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in experimental NASH. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 71:403-406
  • Phung, N, Farrell, G, Robertson, G, George, J. Vitamin E but not glutathione precursors inhibits hepatic fibrosis in experimental NASH exhibiting oxidative stress and mitochondrial abnormalities. Hepatology. 2001; 14(5):1070-1079
  • Phung, N, Farrell, G, Robertson, G, George, J. Vitamin E but not gluthathione precursors ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in experimental NASH. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2001; 25:242-246

2000

  • George, J. Biochemical markers of hepatic fibrogenesis: single measurements are not reliable enough to replace liver biopsy. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2000; 15:819-821
  • Chitturi, S, George, J. Predictors of liver-related complications in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Annals of Medicine. 2000; 32:588-591
  • George, J, Wang, S, Sevcsik, A, Sanicola, M, Cate, R, Koteliansky, V, Montgomery Bissell, D. Transforming growth factor-B initiates wound repair in rat liver through induction of the EIIIA-fibronectin splice isoform. American Journal of Pathology. 2000; 156:115-124
  • Khan, M, Farrell, G, Byth, K, Lin, R, Weltman, M, George, J, Samarasinghe, D, Kench, J, Kaba, S, Crewe, E, Liddle, C. Which patients with hepatitis C develop liver complications. Hepatology. 2000; 31:513-520.

 

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Contact Details

T +61 2 984 57705

F +61 2 963 57582

E jacob_george@wmi.usyd.edu.au

 

 

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