Storr Liver Unit

The Storr Liver Unit (SLU) explores the diverse causes of liver injury, such as drugs and toxins, metabolic factors and viruses.

This internationally acclaimed unit has made substantial contributions to defining how the liver responds to injury and how genes involved in the metabolisms of drugs and toxic products of liver metabolism are regulated and are able to respond to toxic challenge.

The Storr Unit's long term goals are to improve outcomes for patients with chronic liver diseases by reducing liver injury and fibrosis (scarring) and preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer).

The Storr Liver Unit researches aspects of liver disease that affect patients in Australia with a focus on hepatitis C.

Currently our researchers are undertaking novel work in human genome mapping of individuals who have been treated with anti-viral therapies for hepatitis C. The aim of the study is to identify why some patients respond to treatment and others do not.

The Unit has commenced the trial of a new anti-viral drug which has the potential to alter currently available treatments for chronic hepatitis C patients.

Our researchers are undertaking studies of longer acting medications for the treatment of hepatitis C. The aim is to provide information that may lead to a reduction in the side effects of currently available therapies.

Studies are being conducted on the molecular basis of why patients with hepatitis C are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Research is being undertaken to determine genetic signatures in liver tissue relating to the development of liver damage in hepatitis C.

The unit is also undertaking studies to determine why some patients with chronic hepatitis C and B go on to develop liver cancer.

Professor Jacob George is the Director of the Storr Liver Unit.