Nynke van der Schaaf

PhD candidate Profile

PhD candidate

Bile acid pathways and therapeutic strategies in cholestatic liver disease

How can we improve treatment outcomes for patients with cholestatic liver disease? My PhD research approaches this question from a fundamental perspective, using mouse models of cholestatic liver disease. These rare genetic diseases are caused by defects in bile acid synthesis and secretion. They often present early in childhood and lead to progressive liver injury and fibrosis. My work focuses on developing and using mouse models to better understand these diseases, as well as exploring novel therapeutic strategies. Ultimately, the aim is to translate these findings into improved treatments that help preserve liver function in patients with cholestatic liver diseases.