Laboratory

The Rockey laboratory focuses on two major areas.  First, the lab investigates the pathogenesis of wound healing, using the liver as a model.  In the canonical model, injury leads to activation of effector cells, which then carry out the fibrogenic response, ultimately leading to the clinical disease known as cirrhosis.  The classic effector cell is known as the hepatic stellate cell.  The work has shed new light not only on the cell biology of effector cells in this process, but also on important molecular pathways important in wound healing.  Secondly, the lab has strived to understand the cell and molecular vascular response of the liver to injury.  We have also demonstrated that a key player, the perisinusoidal hepatic stellate cell, exhibits a contractile phenotype.  As such, these cells function as liver specific pericytes that regulate sinusoidal blood flow.  Further, following liver injury, stellate cells exhibit exaggerated contractility, constrict liver sinusoids, and contribute to increased intrahepatic vascular resistance typical of portal hypertension.

Clinical Investigations

Dr. Rockey’s ongoing clinical investigation involves establishing management strategies for common gastrointestinal problems.  The areas of focus include 1) gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly portal hypertensive bleeding and occult and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding; 2) chronic liver disease, especially complications of portal hypertension, and 3) colon cancer screening and imaging.  In such studies, not only are clinical outcomes viewed as critical, but an emphasis has been placed on questions that lead to changes in clinical practice.  The techniques used in this clinical work include the use of retrospective and prospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized controlled trials. A number of ongoing clinical studies are focused in the above highlighted areas.

Additional links for the Rockey Lab:
Rockey Lab Members
Rockey Lab Publications