Keane K.Y. Lai

Keane K.Y. Lai, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Pathology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on liver and pancreatic pathologies, particularly the role of the midnolin gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and the mechanistic implications of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer progression.

• Key Research Areas:
  • Midnolin gene function in liver cancer
  • Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver and pancreas
  • Metabolic disease and carcinogenesis
  • Signal transduction in tumor microenvironment

Recent publications highlight his work on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, pancreatic stellate cell activation, and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. His lab employs genetic knockout models, pharmacological inhibition, and proteomics to dissect disease mechanisms. Collaborative studies include medical imaging and metabolic disorder interactions in cancer.