Sarah MG Morel

Thesis title: A Multimodal Approach to Stratification and Prognostication in Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Biography

Background

During her undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester (UK), Sarah actively sought exposure to diverse areas of biomedicine, gaining valuable experience through research internships in cardiovascular genetics, preclinical immunotherapy, cellular immunometabolism, and rheumatology. Sarah underwent a placement year at the Charité Universitätmedizin Berlin (GER), investigating the impact of intermittent fasting in reducing systemic inflammation using bone marrow organoids. 

During her postgraduate studies at Imperial College London (UK), Sarah joined Dr E. Triantafyllou's Liver Immunology Group. She investigated novel immunomodulatory approaches in acute and chronic liver diseases, specifically assessing the ability of Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) mechanisms to regulate/reprogramme liver macrophages' immune activity, especially anti-microbial, in mouse models for possible translational and therapeutic use in humans.

Before commencing her PhD studies, Sarah worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Oxford's Translational Gastroenterology and Liver Unit (UK) under Prof P. Klenerman and Dr M. FitzPatrick, researching novel non-invasive circulating and tissue-specific biomarkers of both gastrointestinal epithelial damage and adaptive immune response in coeliac disease using targeted proteomic, transcriptomic, and immune-profiling techniques. 

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Biology with Placement Year, The University of Manchester
  • MSc Immunology, Imperial College London

Research summary

Translational Hepatology, Immunology, Gastroenterology, Immunometabolism, Immunotherapy, Multi-Omics, Organoid Technology, Microbiology, Biobusiness.

Current research interests

Metabolic-dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) affects more than one-third of adults worldwide and is a major driver of both liver- and non-liver-related illness and death. Its complex biology, shaped by genetics, environment, and coexisting health conditions, creates significant challenges for accurate diagnosis and effective as well as timely treatment. At present, the lack of reliable genomic, transcriptomic, or proteomic biomarkers limits clinicians’ ability to stratify patients and deliver truly personalised care. Leveraging SteatoSITE, a multimodal pan-Scotland retrospective database of 940 histologically-defined MASLD patients spanning the full disease spectrum, Sarah’s project seeks to identify circulating and tissue biomarkers that define MASLD sub-phenotypes at highest risk of progression to major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE) like hearts attacks and strokes. Candidate biomarkers will be experimentally validated and integrated with longitudinal clinical data to build transcriptomic-based risk prediction models. This integrated strategy aims to enable earlier patient stratification based on their outcome, improve prognostic accuracy, and uncover novel actionable therapeutic targets. Ultimately, Sarah's project has the potential to improve MASLD management by advancing our current understanding of end-stage complications in the context of precision medicine.
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