Ellie Barnes

Ellie Barnes is Professor of Hepatology and Experimental Medicine at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Translational Gastroenterology Unit. As a Ludwig Adjunct Scholar, she leads research translating laboratory findings into human experimental medicine for liver diseases, including cancer. Her work spans vaccine development, early cancer detection, and immune-mediated liver disorders through major consortia like DeLIVER and STOP-HCV.

Her research focuses on applied immunology in liver pathology, with key initiatives in:

• Developing T cell pan-genotypic vaccines for hepatitis C prevention and hepatitis B cure using simian adenoviral vectors
• Leading the CRUK-funded DeLIVER programme for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) early detection via multi-modal technologies
• Investigating IgG4-related disease pathogenesis through national registries and immune profiling
• Advancing stratified medicine approaches and non-invasive liver imaging for fibrosis assessment

Analysis of her 2025 publications reveals emphasis on clinical challenges: metabolic dysfunction in chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis C elimination strategies, and viral persistence post-treatment. Earlier work (2014-2018) established foundational insights into HCV vaccine design, viral genomics, and immune evasion. Collectively, her research integrates virology, immunology, and clinical hepatology to address global liver disease burdens through translational pipelines.

Scientific recognition includes:

• FRCP (Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians)
• FMedSci (Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences)
• Ludwig Adjunct Scholar

She secures major grant funding including Cancer Research UK's DeLIVER programme and MRC's STOP-HCV consortium (22 partners). As NIHR Clinical Research Network lead for hepatology in Thames Valley, she oversees clinical studies at Oxford University NHS Trust while mentoring PhD students in immunology and hepatology.

The Barnes group operates from the Phase-I vaccine laboratory at Peter Medawar building, collaborating with Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research for imaging development. Key initiatives include the DeLIVER consortium (1,000+ patients), STOP-HCV network, and IgG4-RD national registry, reflecting leadership in multi-institutional liver disease research across UK and Southeast Asia.