Krista Rombouts

Professor Krista Rombouts is a Professorial Research Associate at the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health within the Division of Medicine at University College London (UCL). She joined UCL in November 2012 and currently serves as the Interim Head of Department for the Institute for Liver and Digestive Health since June 2023. Professor Rombouts also leads the Centre for Tissue Repair and Regeneration at UCL. Her academic career spans prestigious institutions including the Free University of Brussels, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and University of Gottingen.

Professor Rombouts earned her PhD in Medicine from the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium. Her doctoral training included scholarships at the Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, University of Yeshiva, NY, USA, and University of Gottingen, Germany. Following her PhD, she received the prestigious Sheila Sherlock post-doctoral Fellowship from the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), which she completed at the University of Florence, Italy.

Professor Rombouts' primary research focuses on fibrogenesis with particular emphasis on Hepatic Stellate Cell behavior and liver cancer cell biology, especially examining fibrotic stroma-cancer cell interactions. Her research interests encompass:

• Mechanisms of liver fibrosis and regeneration
• Hepatic stellate cell biology in health and disease
• Genetic polymorphism heterogeneity and cell behavior in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
• ECM matrix and cellular components in tissue repair
• Cell behavior in 2D and 3D cell culture systems for target identification and drug development
• Mesenteric fibrosis in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors

Analysis of Professor Rombouts' recent publications reveals a strong focus on hepatic stellate cells and their role in liver fibrosis, with particular attention to genetic factors like PNPLA3 variants. Her work increasingly incorporates advanced 3D extracellular matrix models to study liver diseases, reflecting a trend toward more physiologically relevant experimental systems. There's also a growing emphasis on the intersection of immunology and liver fibrosis, particularly regarding immune cell-stellate cell interactions in the fibrotic microenvironment.

Professor Rombouts has received several notable scientific awards and recognitions:

• Sheila Sherlock post-doctoral Fellowship of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HFEA)

As an educator, Professor Rombouts serves as module lead for the MSc/MRes in Human Tissue Repair at UCL for Tissue Repair and Regeneration, and for the BSc Applied Medical Sciences for Techniques in Molecular Medicine. She lectures on hepatology, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, and pathophysiology to undergraduate and graduate students. Professor Rombouts is an active PhD supervisor who has mentored numerous PhD, MRes, MSc, and BSc students in her laboratory. She participates in various academic service activities including journal reviewing for Gut, Hepatology, and Journal of Hepatology, and serves on the Educational Committee of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).

Professor Rombouts leads the Centre for Tissue Repair and Regeneration at UCL, where her team investigates liver fibrosis mechanisms using advanced 3D cell culture models. Her research group collaborates extensively with international partners and participates in the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well Being). The team's work spans from basic cellular mechanisms to translational applications in liver disease diagnosis and treatment.