Anissa Widjaja

Dr Anissa Widjaja earned her PhD in Biological Science in 2013 from Nanyang Technological University, after which she received training in molecular biology, biochemistry, and antibody therapeutics during her postdoctoral fellowship under the mentorship of Professor Stuart Cook. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying organ injury and tissue regeneration, with specific interest in liver and kidney diseases and on translating these discoveries into clinical practice. Dr Widjaja is an expert in proof-of concept preclinical models of fibro-inflammatory diseases for the development of new pharmacological treatments. Her recent work in the field of interleukin 11 (IL11) biology, published in top-tier journals, has catalysed the initiation of therapeutic development programs for IL11 inhibition in fibrotic diseases.

Publications     

1. Targeting endogenous kidney regeneration using anti-IL11 therapy in acute and chronic models of kidney disease. Widjaja A. A et al. (2022).  Nature communications
2. Redefining IL11 as a regeneration-limiting hepatotoxin and therapeutic target in acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Widjaja A. A et al. (2021). Science Translational Medicine
3. Hepatocyte-specific IL11 cis-signaling drives lipotoxicity and underlies the transition from NAFLD to NASH. Dong J et al. (2021). Nature Communications
4. Inhibiting Interleukin 11 Signaling Reduces Hepatocyte Death and Liver Fibrosis, Inflammation, and Steatosis in Mouse Models of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Widjaja A. A et al. (2019). Gastroenterology
5. IL-11 is a crucial determinant of cardiovascular fibrosis. Schafer S, Viswanathan S and Widjaja A. A et al. (2017). Nature