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MASLD Team

Investigators

  • Veeral Ajmera, MD

    Veeral Ajmera, MD

    Dr. Veeral Ajmera is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at the University of California, San Diego. He is a board-certified transplant hepatologist and cares for patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Dr. Ajmera completed Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard University and Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). At UCSF he also completed a Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research. Dr. Ajmera is a current member of the UCSD MASLD Research Unit where he collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of experts on research in non-invasive biomarkers, genetics and patient factors associated with disease severity and prognosis. He is a recipient of an American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Clinical and Translational Research Award and an NIDDK K23 Career Development Award for his work on the non-invasive assessment of patients with MASLD. He is a co-investigator for adult hepatology for the NIDDK-sponsored MASH Clinical Research Network and Liver Cirrhosis Network.

  • Monica Tincopa, MD, MSc

    Monica Tincopa, MD, MSc

    Dr. Monica Tincopa is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California, San Diego. She is board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, transplant hepatology and obesity medicine. Dr. Tincopa obtained her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins and Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology fellowships at the University of Michigan (UM). While at UM, Dr. Tincopa also obtained a Master's degree in Health and Healthcare Research. Dr. Tincopa cares for patients with both acute and chronic liver disease and evaluates and cares for patients in need of liver transplantation. Dr. Tincopa is a current member of the UCSD MASLD Research Unit where she collaborates with experts on clinical risk prediction modeling and non-invasive testing for chronic liver disease as well as lifestyle interventions and optimization of metabolic conditions in liver disease. She is a recipient of an American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Clinical and Translational Research Award and a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Dr. Tincopa is a co-investigator for adult hepatology for the NIDDK-sponsored MASH Clinical Research Network.

  • Shravan Dave, MD

    Shravan Dave, MD

    Dr. Shravan Dave is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California, San Diego. He is a board-certified transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist who specializes in general and transplant hepatology, treating chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), autoimmune liver diseases, cirrhosis and liver cancer. He is also involved in the MASLD Research Center as a collaborator on various projects. Dr. Dave completed Internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed by a gastroenterology and transplant Hepatology fellowship right here at UC San Diego .

Visiting Scholars

  • Maral Amangurbanova, MD

    Maral Amangurbanova, MD

    Dr. Maral Amangurbanova received her medical degree at Yildirim Beyazit University in Turkey. ​Prior to joining the MASLD Research Center team, she trained as a pulmonologist at Erciyes University and completed a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Amangurbanova’s research focuses on the development of non-invasive methods for monitoring disease progression and evaluating therapeutic interventions in MASLD and advanced fibrosis. She is also interested in studying the epidemiology of liver diseases in patients with diabetes.

  • Daniel Huang, MBBS

    Daniel Huang, MBBS

    Dr. Daniel Q. Huang is an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore and a transplant hepatologist at the National University Hospital, Singapore. Presently, he is a visiting scholar at the MASLD Research Center at UC San Diego. Dr. Huang's research interest is in the early detection and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in the setting of metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease and viral hepatitis. Dr. Huang is working on non-invasive strategies to risk stratify and detect chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma by leveraging advanced imaging-, RNA-, and microbiome-based approaches.

Fellows

  • Nabil Noureddin, MD

    Nabil Noureddin, MD

    Dr. Nabil Noureddin is a Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellow at the University of California, San Diego.  He earned his medical degree from the University of Aleppo in Syria, followed by post-doctoral research fellowships at University of Southern California (USC), and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Following this, he finished his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Medical School.

    Prior to joining UC San Diego, Dr. Noureddin worked on various research projects related to primary biliary cholangitis, drug-induced liver injury, alcoholic hepatitis, liver transplant and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USC and UCLA.

    Dr. Noureddin is currently a member of the UCSD MASLD Research Center, where he works on research in non-invasive biomarkers, clinical outcomes in cirrhosis, and therapeutics for MASLD. He also has a clinical interest in interventional endoscopy in various areas, focusing on the overlap between hepatology and interventional endoscopy cases.

Nurse Practitioner

  • Lisa Richards, NP

    Lisa Richards, NP

    Lisa Richards is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Hepatology. She has greater than 20 years of Hepatology (Liver) experience with her specialty focusing on metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). She was awarded the Associate-Fellow designation in 2020 by the American Association For The Study Of Liver Disease which acknowledges a distinguished group of advanced practice providers for the highest caliber of excellence and leadership. Her expertise in liver disease brings a strong foundation to the MASLD Research Center where she serves as Assistant Director of Clinical Research Operations. She is a co-investigator on physician-initiated and pharmaceutical treatment studies. She and Dr. Loomba have worked together since 2009 and share the same core values of providing exceptional care to our patients.

Clinical Research Supervisor

  • Egbert Madamba, MD

    Egbert Madamba, MD

    Egbert has a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and a Medical Doctorate degree. He joined the MASLD Research Center in 2018. He is interested in understanding the etiology and progression of MASH. Outside of the research setting, Egbert enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Executive Assistant to Dr. Loomba

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    Paula Hall, MPH

    Paula Hall, MPH joined MASLD Research Center in 2023. She obtained both her B.S. and Master's degree in Public Health from San Diego State University. During her undergrad, she had the opportunity to do research on particulate matter in Mumbai and Bhubaneswar, India. She is interested in pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology. In her free time, Paula enjoys traveling, yoga, pilates, hiking, reading, and trying out new cuisines.

Research and Lab Assistants

  • Harris Siddiqi, B.S.

    Harris Siddiqi, B.S.

    Harris received his B.S. in Human Biology from UC San Diego and joined the NAFLD Research Center team in 2022. He is interested in the physiological and genetic mechanisms of disease as well as incorporating precision medicine in disease intervention. Harris plans to pursue a career as a physician. Outside of the lab, Harris enjoys traveling and playing competitive sports such as tennis and basketball.

  • Aniket Saigal, B.S.

    Aniket Saigal, B.S.

    Aniket received his B.S. in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from UCLA. He joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2023. He is interested in clinical research, epidemiology, and preventive medicine. He enjoys traveling, cooking, and Duolingo.

  • June Hasty

    June Hasty

    June attended UCSB for her bachelor's in English Literature. She developed an interest in lab work outside of her studies in humanities when she was in high school and still aims to broaden her horizons. She joined the MASLD Research Center team in March 2022. At home, she is a professional illustrator with other creative hobbies, like playing the saxophone.

  • Kaleb Tesfai, B.S. Candidate

    Kaleb Tesfai, B.S. Candidate

    Kaleb is pursuing a B.S. in Public Health with Concentration in Medicine Sciences from UC San Diego. He joined the NAFLD Research Center team in 2020. Kaleb is passionate about the public health implications, in addition to genetic susceptibility to disease, on clinical practice, and aspires to have a career in medicine as a physician. Outside of the lab, Kaleb enjoys free writing and playing basketball.

Clinical Research Coordinators

  • Christie Hernandez

    Christie Hernandez

    Christie Hernandez has more than 10 years’ experience in clinical research. She completed a patient care technician program and has since been assisting patients in clinical trials with Type 2 diabetes, Migraines, Osteoarthritis, and MASLD. She has been involved in clinical research since 2010, and joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2020. Her involvement in clinical research has expanded her knowledge about diseases and how they progress which keeps her motivated in patient care and the advancement of science. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and trying new things.

  • Diana Cortez-Moreno, B.S.

    Diana Cortez-Moreno, B.S.

    Diana received her B.S. in Public Health from UC San Diego. She joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2021. Diana’s main area of work is coordinating pharmaceutical trials for MASH and cirrhosis. She is excited about learning about how these investigational treatments affect and prevent the progression of liver disease. Outside of the lab, Diana enjoys hiking, learning to surf, watching movies and exploring new bars and restaurants in San Diego with her friends.

  • Vanessa Cervantes, B.S.

    Vanessa Cervantes, B.S.

    Vanessa received her B.S. in Cognitive Science with a neuroscience specialization from UC San Diego in 2020. She joined the MASLD Research team in November 2021. She is passionate about providing patients with the best experience and hopes to continue this care as she pursues a career as Nurse Practitioner. Outside of the lab, she enjoys baking desserts and long walks with her dog.

  • Wathnita Sarik

    Wathnita Sarik

    In 2012, Wathnita Sarik’s interest in biology and patient care led her to obtaining a position as a Phlebotomist for the MASLD Research Center Team. Subsequently, in 2020, Wathnita graduated from Ventura College with an AA in Sociology and got certified as a CNA for the elderly. In 2022, she rejoined the MASLD team as a Research Coordinator. Wathnita’s current goal is to contribute to the efforts of understanding the origins of liver disease and the development of preventative measures. At her leisure, Wathnita can always be caught dancing, exploring new places, or laughing with her family.

  • Scarlett J Lopez

    Scarlett J Lopez

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    Trent Campbell, B.A.

    Trent received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2020. He joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2023 after previously working on research in infectious disease, and maternal and neonatal health. Trent is passionate about delving into the intricate interplay between epidemiological data application and the modern utilization of medicine. Outside of the lab, he enjoys traveling, hitting the beach, and playing basketball.

Research Data Analyst

  • Richele Bettencourt

    Richele Bettencourt

Regulatory Manager

  • Seema Singh, PhD

    Seema Singh, PhD

    Seema has her PhD in Biotechnology and recently joined Dr. Loomba's team in 2017. Seema ensures that research is conducted in accordance with study protocols, as well as federal, state, institutional and regulatory guidelines. As a coordinator, Seema's priority is to provide exceptional care to her study subjects.

Scientific Writer

  • Susy Kim, PhD

    Susy Kim, PhD

    Susy joined the MASLD Research Center in 2018 and supports its efforts by developing and writing research proposals for federal agencies, industry sponsors, and philanthropic foundations. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience and a B.S. in chemistry.

Finances

  • Melanie Usher B.S.

    Melanie Usher B.S.

    Melanie received her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. She joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2021. Melanie supports the MASLD Research Center with regard to contract/budget review and implementing/maintaining systems for billing and collecting on all invoiceables for industry-sponsored clinical trials as well as investigator-initiated projects. Outside of the lab, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and hanging out at the beach.