I am a clinician with a strong focus on translational research. I graduated in India, trained in Edinburgh and studied for my PhD in Maastricht. I moved to UCL as a Senior lecturer/Hon Consultant in 2000 and was awarded a personal chair in 2009. I spend about 50% of my time providing patient care as a Hepatologist at the secondary and tertiary level at the Royal Free Hospital where I also run a translational and basic science laboratory. I have just finished my term as the Editor in Chief of Journal of Hepatology, which is the first ranked amongst all liver journals (IF: 25.08). The Liver Failure Group at UCL, which I founded and head, is currently comprised of 6 PIs including myself. I am also the Scientific Director of the European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure (www.efclif.com).

Research Focus and Output 

My work is focused on liver failure. The most important observation we made was the discovery that systemic inflammation played a crucial role in the progression of liver injury and cirrhosis culminating in liver failure leading up to current hypotheses and the seminal observation that acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was a distinct clinical syndrome with defined clinical, prognostic and pathophysiological characteristics. ACLF is associated with high mortality rates, consumes huge healthcare resources and its treatment is an unmet need. In the past 20 years since I described this syndrome first, more than 6500 papers have been published on this subject and many research groups and industry are focussed on this subject to better define, prognosticate, understand its pathogenesis and develop new treatments. 

I have developed a vibrant clinical practice and laboratory with many novel therapies and established extensive collaborations with key investigators, Foundations and Industry around the world to study the pathophysiological basis of ACLF. I was the Founder member of the EASL CLIF Consortium (efclif.com), which now stands independently funded with the aim of developing new treatments for cirrhosis and liver failure. One of the drugs I discovered, ornithine phenylacetate (MNK 6105) is due to enter Phase 3 clinical trials. Four of our inventions, CARBALIVE, DIALIVE, Alcochange and Cirrhocare have just completed Phase 2 studies and are ready for pivotal trials. I discovered the TLR4 in ACLF. A Phase 2 clinical trial has been initiated.

My research has led to successful publications of about 480 original papers, editorials and reviews. My H-Index is 100 (Google Scholar; Total citations: >37K).