Lily Dara

Lily Dara, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where she serves as an NIH-funded physician-scientist specializing in hepatology. Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, she maintains active clinical practices at Los Angeles General Medical Center for inpatient liver services and subspecialty clinics, and performs endoscopic procedures at Keck Hospital of USC's outpatient endoscopy unit.

Dr. Dara's research centers on drug-induced liver injury mechanisms using translational animal models and human studies, with particular focus on hepatotoxicity from medications, toxins, and herbal supplements. As an investigator for the NIH's Drug Induced Liver Injury Network (DILIN) and LiverTox reviewer, she examines immune-mediated injury pathways including checkpoint inhibitor toxicity. Her work also investigates racial and ethnic disparities in autoimmune liver disease outcomes, especially among Hispanic/Latinx populations with Autoimmune Hepatitis and Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveals dominant research themes in immune-mediated liver injury mechanisms, particularly checkpoint inhibitor toxicity and drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis. Her work consistently explores cell death pathways (apoptosis/necroptosis), genetic susceptibility factors, and ethnic disparities in disease presentation and outcomes, demonstrating strong translational focus bridging basic science with clinical hepatology.

Dr. Dara's scientific recognition includes:

• NIH, NIDDK: K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (2016-2021)
• Keck School of Medicine: USC RCLD Junior Faculty Transition Award (2015)
• AASLD: Presidential Poster of Distinction (2011)
• AASLD: Resident Scholar Award (2007)

Her NIH K08 award established her independent research program in drug-induced liver injury, and she continues as active DILIN investigator with ongoing clinical trial participation. While specific mentoring activities aren't detailed, her Assistant Professor role involves training medical students, residents, and fellows in hepatology through USC's academic medical system. Dr. Dara collaborates with USC's Liver Institute research teams focusing on translational mechanisms of liver injury and clinical outcomes in diverse patient populations.