SUMMARY
The research of Robert C. Huebert, M.D., focuses broadly on biliary epigenetics and liver regenerative medicine. Dr. Huebert particularly focuses on understanding and treating cholangiopathies, a diverse group of liver diseases targeting the biliary tree.
Dr. Huebert's Biliary Epigenetics and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, which is funded in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive biliary fibrosis, regeneration and repair. This includes the signaling pathways and epigenetic events that drive these processes.
Dr. Huebert's lab has done pioneering work to define epigenetic complexes and long noncoding RNAs that drive biliary fibrosis. This work has uncovered new molecular targets for therapy.
The lab also has developed a novel method to derive epithelial cells that line the bile ducts, known as cholangiocytes, from induced pluripotent stem cells. The lab has used this method to populate the Liver Biobank, a biorepository of induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with liver diseases. The biobank is being used for individualized disease modeling and pharmacological testing and to develop cell-therapy applications.
As director of Mayo Clinic's Transplant Research Center, Dr. Huebert is driving strategic imperatives in transplant innovation across Mayo Clinic.
Fous areas
- Biliary epigenetics. Dr. Huebert has demonstrated the central role and mechanisms of epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of biliary fibrosis. His key publications outline a direction of work that has further established the field of inquiry related to epigenetics and long noncoding RNAs in transcriptional regulation of liver fibrosis pathways. This work is being translated toward pharmacological targeting to treat cholangiopathies such as primary sclerosing cholangitis.
- Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cholangiocytes. Dr. Huebert's lab pioneered a novel technology to create cholangiocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells. This technology allows the lab to test the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying biliary development and pathophysiology. It also is a platform for individualized modeling of biliary disease and testing pharmacotherapies.
- Transplant research and innovation. The lab is including RNA therapeutics during machine perfusion to rejuvenate donor livers. Dr. Huebert also leads a clinical trial of mesenchymal stromal cells to prevent biliary complications after living-donor liver transplantation.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Huebert's research is expanding the understanding of how diseases of the bile ducts work. He uses regenerative medicine to find new ways to study and treat these diseases.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Director, Transplant Research Center, 2023-present.
- Director, Transplant Hepatology Fellowship Program, 2022-present.
- Vice chair, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 2022-present.
- Gilead Sciences Research Scholars Programs in Liver Disease award, Gilead Research Scholars, 2016.
- Postdoctoral Scholar Award, Regenerative Medicine Minnesota, 2015.
- National Institutes of Health:
- Loan Repayment Program award, 2009-2010, 2013-2015.
- K08 Career Development Award, 2013.
- Advanced/Transplant Hepatology Fellowship, AASLD Foundation, 2012.
- Young Investigator of the Year, Hartz Foundation, 2009.