​Nieto

Natalia Nieto, Pharm.D, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Visiting Professor
phone: (312) 996-7316
fax: (312) 996-4812
email: nnieto@uic.edu

 

 

Research Areas

  • Liver
  • Gut-liver interaction
  • Extracellular matrix

What I Do

  • Conduct basic research

  • Direct the extracellular matrix and GI/Liver Research Interest Program

Biography

My laboratory has longstanding interest and demonstrated expertise in identifying the molecular mechanisms driving the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. During my Ph.D., I acquired solid knowledge on the role of oxidative stress, inflammation and fatty acid metabolism in disease progression. In my first period of Postdoctoral training in Marcos Rojkind Laboratory at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, an expert in hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis, I worked on extracellular matrix biology and on the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis. During my second period of Postdoctoral training in Arthur I. Cederbaum Laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, an expert in oxidative stress and liver toxicity, I studied the mechanisms involved in up-regulating collagen I gene expression under oxidative stress conditions and the role of oxidant stress in hepatic fibrosis and in alcoholic liver disease. Through my training, I developed broad expertise on the crosstalk among liver cells on the fibrogenic response to liver injury and to alcohol consumption, which continues to be the major focus of my research. Thus, I have a long-standing interest in understanding the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, gut-liver interaction and the extracellular matrix in the liver.

Education

PharmD, 1991: University of Grenada, Spain
MSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1993: University of Grenada, Spain
PhD, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1996: University of Grenada, Spain

Residency

1992-1994:  Pharmacist Specialist in Clinical Chemistry, University of Grenada 

Research Expertise

Liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, gut-live interaction, extracellular matrix

Awards and Honors

  • 2014           50th Anniversary Fomento Award - Fomento Alumni Medal
  • 2009-2013  Research Excellence Incentive Plan, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • 2008-2010, 2012     American Association for the Study of Liver Disease - multiple awards for poster presentations
  • 2012           European Association for the Study of the Liver - president's choice poster award
  • 2011           International Society for the Hepatic Sinusoid Research - young investigator travel awards
  • 2008           US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists - invited candidate

Selected Recent Publications

Click to View Recent Publications

Keywords

Hepatic stellate cells, Kupffer cells, steatosis, inflammation, liver, hepatoccelular carcinoma, liver fibrosis, alcoholic liver disease, extracellular matrix