• Fellowship of Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh 2009
• PhD Medicine 2003
• MBChB 1995
• BSc (Hons) Neuroscience 1994

Philip Newsome is Professor of Experimental Hepatology, Director of the Centre for Liver Research and Clinical Director of the Birmingham University Stem Cell Centre. He is area lead for Liver Regeneration and Cell Therapy in the NIHR Birmingham Liver Biomedical Research Unit and is the Chief Investigator on the EU FP7 funded MERLIN project. Merlin researchers are developing stem cell-based therapies that specifically target inflammatory components of liver disease. 

He runs the metabolic services at the Liver Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham which includes a large multi-disciplinary clinic for patients with NAFLD. He was Chief Investigator on a randomised controlled trial of Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapy in NAFLD published in the Lancet, and is also Chief Investigator on a study of Fibroscan in NAFLD. He is editor of a recently published textbook on Liver Transplantation, and chaired the national guidelines for liver transplantation in NAFLD. He sits on the NICE Guideline Development Group for NAFLD.

Philip has received significant grant funding from the NIHR, European Union, Wellcome Trust, UKSCF, BBSRC and the Medical Research Council. This research portfolio has led to high impact publications amongst over 60 major research papers in the fields of stem cell biology and liver disease. This has included original articles (PNAS, Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, Gut, American Journal of Transplantation, Annals of Internal Medicine, Lancet) and review articles (Gastroenterology, Journal of Hepatology).  

Prospective researchers should contact him regarding job/training opportunities.

Teaching Programmes

A range of lectures on aspects of stem cell biology, stem cell contribution in liver injury, liver regeneration and disease modelling using genetically modified mice. These include stem cell courses for BMedSci, and one-off lectures for a number of MBChB, MSc and BSc courses. He also provides bed-side teaching for clinical students.

Module lead on BMedSci course (liver disease and health)

Philip is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

• Contribution of adult stem cells to liver injury and repair.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; ranging from laboratory to clinical studies.

If you are interesting in studying any of these subject areas please contact Philip on the contact details above, or for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email: dr@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call +44 (0)121 414 5005.

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.   

RESEARCH THEMES

Stem Cell Biology, Clinical Trials, Cell trafficking and Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

RESEARCH ACTIVITY

As a clinician scientist Phil’s research starts with cutting edge basic science work which is being successfully translated to the bedside by way of innovative therapeutic studies, such as the NIHR-funded clinical trial of stem cell therapy in patients with liver cirrhosis for which he is Chief Investigator. This is the largest randomised controlled trial of stem cell therapy thus far and is in collaboration with his colleague Stuart Forbes in Edinburgh. Demonstration of efficacy in this trial would have a major impact in the NHS given the rising levels of liver cirrhosis in the UK and the lack of effective therapies at present.

Stem Cell Biology

The main emphasis of his group’s laboratory work over the last few years has been on the trafficking and role of both adult and embryonic stem cells in the context of liver injury. This has allowed identification of the key molecular interactions that regulate the successful engraftment of such cells into the liver.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Additionally he has a bench to bedside programme of research in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). He is clinical lead for the metabolic liver service at UHBFT and was Chief Investigator on a Wellcome Trust funded randomised double-blinded placebo controlled trial of Liraglutide (novel Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue) in patients with NAFLD published in the Lancet. This was an Investigator initiated study performed in conjunction with an industrial partner (Novo Nordisk) and the University of Nottingham (Guru Aithal). NAFLD is now the commonest cause of liver disease in the West, and for which again there are no effective therapies.

• Secretary of Liver Section for British Society of Gastroenterology
• Clinical lead for metabolic liver disease at the Liver Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
• Expert advisor for the Association of Glycogen Storage Disorders

Armstrong MJ, Gaunt P, Aithal GP, Barton D, Hull D, Parker R, Hazlehurst JM, Guo K; LEAN trial team, Abouda G, Aldersley MA, Stocken D, Gough SC, Tomlinson JW, Brown RM, Hübscher SG, Newsome PN. Liraglutide safety and efficacy in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (LEAN): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 study. Lancet. 2015 Nov 19. pii: S0140-6736(15)00803-X. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00803-X. [Epub ahead of print] 

Bartlett DC, Newsome PN. Hepatocyte cell therapy in liver disease. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 Oct;9(10):1261-72. doi: 10.1586/17474124.2015.1073106. 

Vigneswara V, Newsome PN. Mesenchymal stromal cells - Where art thou? J Hepatol. 2015 Sep 25. pii: S0168-8278(15)00625-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.09.007. 

Armstrong MJ, Hull D, Guo K, Barton D, Hazlehurst JM, Gathercole LL, Nasiri M, Yu J, Gough SC, Newsome PN, Tomlinson JW. Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Decreases Lipotoxicity in Non-Alcoholic Steatophepatitis. J Hepatol. 2015 Sep 19. pii: S0168-8278(15)00624-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.08.038. 

Kavanagh DP, Suresh S, Newsome PN, Frampton J, Kalia N. Pretreatment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Manipulates Their Vasculoprotective Potential While Not Altering Their Homing Within the Injured Gut. Stem Cells. 2015 Jun 29. doi: 10.1002/stem.2061. 

Owen A, Newsome PN. Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in liver disease; opportunities and lessons to be learnt? Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2015 Aug 27:ajpgi.00036.2015. doi: 0.1152/ajpgi.00036.2015. 

Armstrong MJ, Newsome PN. Trials of obeticholic acid for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Lancet. 2015 Jul 4;386(9988):28. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)61199-0. 

Wilhelm A, Aldridge V, Haldar D, Naylor AJ, Weston CJ, Hedegaard D, Garg A, Fear J, Reynolds GM, Croft AP, Henderson NC, Buckley CD, Newsome PN. CD248/endosialin critically regulates hepatic stellate cell proliferation during chronic liver injury via a PDGF-regulated mechanism. Gut. 2015 Jun 15. pii: gutjnl-2014-308325. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308325. 

Trivedi PJ, Weston CJ, Webb GJ, Newsome PN, Hirschfield GM, Adams DH. Serum alkaline phosphatase in multidrug resistance 2 (Mdr2^-/- ) knockout mice is strain specific. Hepatology. 2015 Apr 30. doi: 10.1002/hep.27874. 

Than NN, Newsome PN. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: when to intervene and with what. Clin Med. 2015 Apr;15(2):186-90. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.15-2-186. 

King A, Barton D, Beard HA, Than N, Moore J, Corbett C, Thomas J, Guo K, Guha I, Hollyman D, Stocken D, Yap C, Fox R, Forbes SJ, Newsome PN. REpeated AutoLogous Infusions of STem cells In Cirrhosis (REALISTIC): a multicentre, phase II, open-label, randomised controlled trial of repeated autologous infusions of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) mobilised CD133+ bone marrow stem cells in patients with cirrhosis. A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2015 Mar 20;5(3):e007700. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007700. 

Armstrong MJ, Newsome PN. Editorial: Treatment for NASH - helping the liver or helping the heart? Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Mar;41(5):487. doi: 10.1111/apt.13060. 

Than NN, Newsome PN. A concise review of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Atherosclerosis. 2015 Mar;239(1):192-202. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.01.001. Review. 

Karim S, Liaskou E, Fear J, Garg A, Reynolds G, Claridge L, Adams DH, Newsome PN, Lalor PF. Dysregulated hepatic expression of glucose transporters in chronic disease: contribution of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase to hepatic glucose uptake. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2014 Dec 15;307(12):G1180-90. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00377.2013. 

Armstrong MJ, Houlihan DD, Newsome PN. NAFLD is underrecognized in the primary care setting: UK experience. Am J Gastroenterol. 2014 Sep;109(9):1500-1. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2014.207. 

Bartlett DC, Lloyd C, McKiernan PJ, Newsome PN. Early nitisinone treatment reduces the need for liver transplantation in children with tyrosinaemia type 1 and improves post-transplant renal function. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2014 Sep;37(5):745-52. doi: 10.1007/s10545-014-9683-x. 

Armstrong MJ, Hazlehurst JM, Hull D, Guo K, Borrows S, Yu J, Gough SC, Newsome PN, Tomlinson JW. Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin resistance and lipolysis in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2014 Jul;16(7):651-60. doi: 10.1111/dom.12272. 

Bartlett DC, Hodson J, Bhogal RH, Youster J, Newsome PN. Combined use of N-acetylcysteine and Liberase improves the viability and metabolic function of human hepatocytes isolated from human liver. Cytotherapy. 2014 Jun;16(6):800-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2014.01.006. 

Than NN, Newsome PN. Stem cells for liver regeneration. QJM. 2014 Jun;107(6):417-21. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcu013. 

Dowman JK, Hopkins LJ, Reynolds GM, Nikolaou N, Armstrong MJ, Shaw JC, Houlihan DD, Lalor PF, Tomlinson JW, Hübscher SG, Newsome PN. Development of hepatocellular carcinoma in a murine model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by use of a high-fat/fructose diet and sedentary lifestyle. Am J Pathol. 2014 May;184(5):1550-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.01.034. 

Garg A, Houlihan DD, Aldridge V, Suresh S, Li KK, King AL, Sutaria R, Fear J, Bhogal RH, Lalor PF, Newsome PN. Non-enzymatic dissociation of human mesenchymal stromal cells improves chemokine-dependent migration and maintains immunosuppressive function. Cytotherapy. 2014 Apr;16(4):545-59. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2013.10.003. 

Wang Y, Fan N, Song J, Zhong J, Guo X, Tian W, Zhang Q, Cui F, Li L, Newsome PN, Frampton J, Esteban MA, Lai L. Generation of knockout rabbits using transcription activator-like effector nucleases. Cell Regen (Lond). 2014 Feb 5;3(1):3. doi: 10.1186/2045-9769-3-3. eCollection 2014. 

King A, Newsome PN. Bone marrow stem cell therapy for liver disease. Dig Dis. 2014;32(5):494-501. doi: 10.1159/000360491. 

Newsome PN. SOS liver damage; calling all haematopoietic stem cells. Liver Int. 2014 Jan;34(1):1-3. doi: 10.1111/liv.12302. 

Armstrong MJ, Hazlehurst JM, Parker R, Koushiappi E, Mann J, Khan S, Philips A, Chandler L, Johnson J, Round M, Haydon G, Karamat MA, Newsome PN, Tomlinson JW. Severe asymptomatic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in routine diabetes care; a multi-disciplinary team approach to diagnosis and management. QJM. 2014 Jan;107(1):33-41. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hct198. 

Dowman JK, Hopkins LJ, Reynolds GM, Armstrong MJ, Nasiri M, Nikolaou N, van Houten EL, Visser JA, Morgan SA, Lavery GG, Oprescu A, Hübscher SG, Newsome PN, Tomlinson JW. Loss of 5α-reductase type 1 accelerates the development of hepatic steatosis but protects against hepatocellular carcinoma in male mice. Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;154(12):4536-47. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1592. 

Luu NT, McGettrick HM, Buckley CD, Newsome PN, Rainger GE, Frampton J, Nash GB. Crosstalk between mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells leads to downregulation of cytokine-induced leukocyte recruitment. Stem Cells. 2013 Dec;31(12):2690-702. doi: 10.1002/stem.1511. 

Armstrong MJ, Barton D, Gaunt P, Hull D, Guo K, Stocken D, Gough SC, Tomlinson JW, Brown RM, Hübscher SG, Newsome PN; LEAN trial team. Liraglutide efficacy and action in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (LEAN): study protocol for a phase II multicentre, double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2013 Nov 4;3(11):e003995. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003995. 

Garg A, Newsome PN. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and liver regeneration: believe the hypoxia! Stem Cell Res Ther. 2013 Sep 4;4(5):108. doi: 10.1186/scrt319. 

Lilford RJ, Bentham L, Girling A, Litchfield I, Lancashire R, Armstrong D, Jones R, Marteau T, Neuberger J, Gill P, Cramb R, Olliff S, Arnold D, Khan K, Armstrong MJ, Houlihan DD, Newsome PN, Chilton PJ, Moons K, Altman D. Birmingham and Lambeth Liver Evaluation Testing Strategies (BALLETS): a prospective cohort study. Health Technol Assess. 2013 Jul;17(28):i-xiv, 1-307. doi: 10.3310/hta17280. 

Armstrong MJ, Houlihan DD, Rowe IA, Clausen WH, Elbrønd B, Gough SC, Tomlinson JW, Newsome PN. Safety and efficacy of liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated liver enzymes: individual patient data meta-analysis of the LEAD program. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Jan;37(2):234-42. doi: 10.1111/apt.12149. Epub 2012 Nov 19. 

Bartlett DC, Preece MA, Holme E, Lloyd C, Newsome PN, McKiernan PJ. Plasma succinylacetone is persistently raised after liver transplantation in tyrosinaemia type 1. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2013 Jan;36(1):15-20. doi: 10.1007/s10545-012-9482-1. 

Aldridge V, Garg A, Davies N, Bartlett DC, Youster J, Beard H, Kavanagh DP, Kalia N, Frampton J, Lalor PF, Newsome PN. Human mesenchymal stem cells are recruited to injured liver in a β1-integrin and CD44 dependent manner. Hepatology. 2012 Sep;56(3):1063-73. doi: 10.1002/hep.25716. 

Dowman JK, Watson D, Loganathan S, Gunson BK, Hodson J, Mirza DF, Clarke J, Lloyd C, Honeybourne D, Whitehouse JL, Nash EF, Kelly D, van Mourik I, Newsome PN. Long-term impact of liver transplantation on respiratory function and nutritional status in children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Am J Transplant. 2012 Apr;12(4):954-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03904.x. 

Newsome PN, Allison ME, Andrews PA, Auzinger G, Day CP, Ferguson JW, Henriksen PA, Hubscher SG, Manley H, McKiernan PJ, Millson C, Mirza D, Neuberger JM, Oben J, Pollard S, Simpson KJ, Thorburn D, Tomlinson JW, Wyatt JS; British Transplant Society. Guidelines for liver transplantation for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Gut. 2012 Apr;61(4):484-500. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2011-300886. 

Forbes SJ, Newsome PN. New horizons for stem cell therapy in liver disease. J Hepatol. 2012 Feb;56(2):496-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.06.022. 

Dowman JK, Gunson BK, Mirza DF, Bramhall SR, Badminton MN, Newsome PN; UK Liver Selection and Allocation Working Party. Liver transplantation for acute intermittent porphyria is complicated by a high rate of hepatic artery thrombosis. Liver Transpl. 2012 Feb;18(2):195-200. doi: 10.1002/lt.22345. 

Armstrong MJ, Houlihan DD, Bentham L, Shaw JC, Cramb R, Olliff S, Gill PS, Neuberger JM, Lilford RJ, Newsome PN. Presence and severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a large prospective primary care cohort. J Hepatol. 2012 Jan;56(1):234-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2011.03.020. Epub 2011 May 18. 

Ahmed A, Rabbitt E, Brady T, Brown C, Guest P, Bujalska IJ, Doig C, Newsome PN, Hubscher S, Elias E, Adams DH, Tomlinson JW, Stewart PM. A switch in hepatic cortisol metabolism across the spectrum of non alcoholic fatty liver disease. PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e29531. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029531. 

Houlihan DD, Hopkins LJ, Suresh SX, Armstrong MJ, Newsome PN. Autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in liver failure patients caused by hepatitis B: short-term and long-term outcomes. Hepatology. 2011 Nov;54(5):1891-2; author reply 1892. doi: 10.1002/hep.24722. 

Houlihan DD, Armstrong MJ, Davidov Y, Hodson J, Nightingale P, Rowe IA, Paris S, Gunson BK, Bramhall SB, Mutimer DJ, Neuberger JM, Newsome PN. Renal function in patients undergoing transplantation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis: time to reconsider immunosuppression regimens? Liver Transpl. 2011 Nov;17(11):1292-8. doi: 10.1002/lt.22382. 

Dowman JK, Armstrong MJ, Tomlinson JW, Newsome PN. Current therapeutic strategies in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2011 Aug;13(8):692-702. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2011.01403.x. Review.

Ezzat TM, Dhar DK, Newsome PN, Malagó M, Olde Damink SW. Use of hepatocyte and stem cells for treatment of post-resectional liver failure: are we there yet? Liver Int. 2011 Jul;31(6):773-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02530.x.

Dowman JK, Tomlinson JW, Newsome PN. Systematic review: the diagnosis and staging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Mar;33(5):525-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04556.x. Epub 2010 Dec 29.  PMID: 21198708.

Payne CM, Samuel K, Pryde A, King J, Brownstein D, Schrader J, Medine CN, Forbes SJ, Iredale JP, Newsome PN*, Hay DC*. Persistence of functional hepatocyte-like cells in immune-compromised mice. Liver Int. 2011 (* joint senior author)
Feb;31(2):254-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2010.02414.x. Epub 2010 Dec 10. PMID: 21143581.

Crosby HA, Lalor PF, Ross E, Newsome PN, Adams DH. Adhesion of human haematopoietic (CD34+) stem cells to human liver compartments is integrin and CD44 dependent and modulated by CXCR3 and CXCR4. J Hepatol. 2009
Oct;51(4):734-49. Epub 2009 Jul 30.  PMID: 19703720.

Hay DC, Fletcher J, Payne C, Terrace JD, Gallagher RC, Snoeys J, Black JR, Wojtacha D, Samuel K, Hannoun Z, Pryde A, Filippi C, Currie IS, Forbes SJ, Ross JA, Newsome PN*, Iredale JP*. Highly efficient differentiation of hESCs to  functional hepatic endoderm requires ActivinA and Wnt3a signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Aug 26;105(34):12301-6. (* joint senior author) Epub 2008 Aug 21.  PMID: 18719101;  Central PMCID: PMC2518825.

Houlihan DD, Newsome PN. Critical review of clinical trials of bone marrow stem cells in liver disease. Gastroenterology. 2008 Aug;135(2):438-50. Epub 2008 May 15. Review.  PMID: 18585384.

Newsome PN, Johannessen I, Boyle S, Dalakas E, McAulay KA, Samuel K, Rae F, Forrester L, Turner ML, Hayes PC, Harrison DJ, Bickmore WA, Plevris JN. Human cord blood-derived cells can differentiate into hepatocytes in the mouse liver with no evidence of cellular fusion. Gastroenterology. 2003 Jun;124(7):1891-900.  PMID: 12806622.