Research
Our Research
We investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning metabolic liver disease, from basic biology to clinical translation.
Projects
Ethanol driven mitochondrial remodelling
How ethanol reshapes mitochondrial architecture in hepatocytes in steatotic liver disease.
Read more → Mito ModelsHuman hepatic models to study mitochondria
Developing complex human models to investigate mitochondrial morphology and megamitochondria in the liver.
Read more → Drug TestingOrganotypic platforms for preclinical drug testing
Advancing organotypic liver models to evaluate novel therapeutic strategies for steatotic liver disease and liver cancer.
Read more → Mito PlastictyMitochondrial plasticity and organelle biology
Deciphering the fundamental principles governing mitochondrial plasticity in response to cellular signalling and metabolic stress.
Read more → CCAPatient derived models of cholangiocarcinoma
Understanding how mitochondrial dynamics contribute to tumour progression in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
Read more → MethodsTechniques & Platforms
An overview of the key experimental and computational platforms used in the lab.
Read more →Key Collaborations
Academic
Luca Urbani
King's College London, Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies
Role of mitochondria in Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC) and organotypic liver models.
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Pedro Baptista
Center for Biomedical Research Network Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBERehd), Zaragoza
Translational validation of gut microbiota-derived peptides in liver regeneration and fibrosis using Precision-Cut Liver Slices.
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Maddy Parsons
King's College London, Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics
Advanced bioimaging and microscopy approaches applied to patient derived tissue models.
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Michele Vacca
University of Bari Aldo Moro, Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies
Nutritional interventions and therapeutic potential of polyphenols in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), ex vivo models of MASLD.
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Shilpa Chokshi
University of Plymouth
Organotypic models of liver disease and liver cancer, role of mitochondria morphology in Alcohol-related Liver Disease (ALD).
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Thomas Marjot
Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London
Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) and experimental medicine.
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Geltrude Mingrone
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, King's College London
Perilipins and mitochondria in Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD).
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Peter Starkel
Université Catholique de Louvain and Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels
Characterisation of mitochondrial alterations in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol related liver disease (ALD).
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Filip Braet
University of Sydney
Characterisation of megamitochondria by electron microscopy in human tissue derived models.
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Marta Giacomello
University of Padova
Imaging analysis to study mitochondrial morphometrics.
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Liver Histopatology Laboratory
King's College Hospital
Characterisation of mitochondrial alterations in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol related liver disease (ALD).
Academic
TITAN Consortium
Prof Jesús M. Bañales, Dr Pedro Rodrigues, Prof Fernando Cossío, Dr Iván Rivilla, Prof Jean Charles Nault, Dr Sandra Rebouissou, Prof Ana Lleo, Dr Michela Polidoro
Development of novel therapeutic strategies for liver cancer. Testing efficacy of cisplatin derivatives in cholangiocarcinoma preclinical models.
Societies and Committees
ESBRA - European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcohol
The Palma Lab is an active member of the ESBRA community, contributing to initiatives that advance alcohol related research, education, and scientific collaboration across Europe.
Dr Elena Palma is Chair of the ESBRA Early Career Investigators and Communication Committee, supporting visibility, networking, mentorship, and career development for early career researchers in alcohol research.
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EASL - European Association for the Study of the Liver
The Palma Lab actively participates in initiatives organised by EASL, contributing to education, translational hepatology, and basic liver research.
Dr Elena Palma served as Course Director of the EASL Basic Science School “Precision Cut Liver Slices and Liver Organoids: versatile ex vivo models of liver disease” in 2022 and 2024. She was also part of the faculty at the EASL Congress in 2025 and 2026 and is among the organisers of the EASL Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) Summit 2027.
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