Patrizia Burra.pdf

Patrizia Burra is Associate Professor of Gastroenterology and Head of Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology at the Padua University Hospital, Italy. Since 2015 she is ViceRector on Research Training at Padua University.

Patrizia Burra has been working for years on clinical and basic research in Hepatology. Her main clinical research interest is on complications of cirrhosis and liver transplantation. She is particularly involved in the evaluation of patients with acute and chronic alcoholic liver disease, HBV- and HCV-related liver disease. She is also an expert on post-transplant management of medical complications, compliance and quality of life after liver transplantation. In the past years she has carried out studies on neurological function and regional cerebral flux by means of SPECT (single photon emission tomography) and has carried out studies on neurological function, in liver transplant recipients, using PET (positron emission tomography). Moreover she performed studies on the histological features after liver transplantation in alcoholic cirrhotics, on the prophylaxis of hepatitis B and hepatitis recurrence after liver transplantation.

In addition to clinical research, Patrizia Burra has been also involved in basic research. In the past she carried out analysis of expression of receptors for thyroid hormones on primary cultures of human hepatocytes and performed analyses on Lymphocyte adhesion molecules and endothelial damage in an ischemic-reperfusion liver damage experimental model. More recently she headed the research group involved in regenerative medicine studies, particularly on umbilical mesenchymal stem cells therapy for the treatment of hepatic and intestinal diseases. Currently the translational research of Prof. Burra is focused on the characterization of the immune profile and exosomal microRNA in patients with acute drug induced liver injury and in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Patrizia Burra is internationally recognized as an expert in hepatology and liver transplantation. She is now Past President of the International  Liver Transplant Society (ILTS), that she previously served as President. She was also chair of the European Liver and Intestine Transplant Association (ELITA), Vice President of European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), Chair of the ILTS Education Committee and Treasurer of ILTS. She served the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) for 5 years as EU Policy Councillor until 2016. She is also President of the NGO Marina Minnaja Foundation for the research and study of liver transplantation. She has authored more than 280 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, with an H-index of 46.

Specific Basic and Clinical/Research Interests:

Basic research

-Primary cultures of human hepatocytes and expression of thyroid hormons receptor
-Lymphocyte adhesion molecules and endothelial damage
-Ischemia damage and hepatic reperfusion in experimental model
-Stem cells therapy for the treatment of hepatic and intestinal diseases
-Characterization of the immune profile and exosomal microRNA in patients with acute drug induced liver injury and in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Clinical research

-Liver transplantation
-Acute and chronic alcoholic liver disease
-Cirrhosis and its complications
-Quality of life before and after liver transplantation
-Adherence to medical treatment before and after liver transplantation
-Sexual problems in males and females, before and after liver transplantation

1. Burra P., D. Samuel, J. Wendon, A. Pietrangelo, S. Gupta. Strategies for liver support: from stem cells to xenotransplantation. J Hepatol 2004;41:1050-1059.

2. Burra P., R.J. Porte. Should donors and recipients be matched in liver transplantation? Journal of Hepatology 2006;45:488-513.

3. Burra P. The adolescent and liver transplantation. Journal of Hepatology 2012;56:714-722. IF 14.911

4. Burra P, Freeman R. Trends in liver transplantation 2011. Journal of Hepatology 2012;56(suppl 1):S101-S11

5. Burra P, Arcidiacono D, Bizzaro D, Chioato T, Di Liddo R, Banerjee A, Cappon A, Bo P, Conconi MT, Parnigotto PP, Mirandola S, Gringeri E, Carraro A, Cillo U, Russo FP. Systemic administration of a novel human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells population accelerates the resolution of acute liver injury. BMC Gastroenterology; 2012; 12:88.

6. Burra P, Germani G, Adam R, Karam V, Marzano A, Lampertico P, Salizzoni M, Filipponi F, Klempnauer JL, Castaing D, Kilic M, Carlis LD, Neuhaus P, Yilmaz S, Paul A, Pinna AD, Burroughs AK, Russo FP. Liver transplantation for HBV-related cirrhosis in Europe: an ELTR study on evolution and outcomes. J Hepatol. 2013 Feb;58(2):287-96.

7. Fagiuoli S, Colli A, Bruno R, Craxì A, Gaeta GB, Grossi P, Mondelli MU, Puoti M, Sagnelli E, Stefani S, Toniutto P, Burra P; 2011 AISF Single Topic Group. Management of infections pre- and post-liver transplantation: Report of an AISF consensus conference. J Hepatol. 2014 May;60(5):1075-89.

8. Toniutto P, Zanetto A, Ferrarese A, Burra P. Current challenges and future directions for liver transplantation. Liver Int. 2017;37:317–327

9. Burra P, Belli LS, Ginanni Corradini S, Volpes R, Marzioni M, Giannini E, Toniutto P. Common issues in the management of patients in the waiting list and after liver transplantation. Dig Liver Dis. 2017 Mar;49(3):241-253.

10. Burra P, Giannini EG, Caraceni P, Ginanni Corradini S, Rendina M, Volpes R, Toniutto P. Specific issues concerning the management of patients on the waiting list and after liver transplantation. Liver Int. 2018; 1-25

Ordinary department funding.