Garrett R. Roll, M.D., FACS

Biography

Dr. Roll is a general surgeon specializing in abdominal organ transplantation. He completed both general surgery training and the abdominal organ transplant fellowship at the University of California San Francisco. 

During his training, Dr. Roll spent 2 years in Dr. Holger Willenbring's laboratory investigating stem cell biology in the context of liver cell therapy, as well as normal and pathologic liver regeneration. His research concentrated on the use of hepatocyte-like cells derived from stem cells to be used in liver cell therapy. In particular, Dr. Roll investigated the regenerative capabilities of hepatocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. They used a genetically deficient mouse model of liver disease as a way to test the functional capabilities of these cells after transplantation. They were able to demonstrate that the profound proliferative capabilities of adult hepatocytes are retained by hepatocytes derived from iPS cells, and transplanting these cells rescued mice with liver failure. Dr. Roll also investigated the role of miRNA in liver regeneration, and the rejection of transplanted hepatocytes and hepatocyte-like cells. The principles of his research will remain valuable in liver and pancreas cell therapy translational science for years.

After fellowship Dr. Roll moved to England to become a Senior International Fellow in Liver Transplant and Multi Organ Procurement at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, one of the busiest liver transplant departments in the United Kingdom. There he gained valuable experience in the blossoming field of normothermic machine liver perfusion prior to returning to UCSF.