Robert Bhatt

Robert Bhatt investigates the rising burden of HCC arising in the context of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH/MASH) in the absence of significant fibrosis. His research has characterized molecular mechanisms by which lipid accumulation, metabolic inflammation, and lipotoxicity promote hepatocarcinogenesis independent of cirrhosis. He has identified molecular features distinguishing NASH-HCC from viral hepatitis-HCC and defined the epidemiological trends of the shifting etiology of HCC in Western countries. His work highlights the need for HCC surveillance strategies tailored to metabolic liver disease patients who may not meet traditional cirrhosis-based surveillance criteria.