The PSYLIVER project
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer that develops from cirrhosis in 80% of cases and is steadily increasing in incidence. Associated psychosocial factors play a significant role. HCC is highly heterogeneous, and predicting its onset in patients with cirrhosis remains challenging. Discovering new links between general pathophysiology and the liver could lead to significant progress in addressing this issue. The liver is innervated by the nervous system.
Through a transdisciplinary consortium (comprising a neuropsychologist, two physicians, and a pharmacist), we aim to identify and combine the psycho-behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuro-hepatological biological correlates associated with progression to HCC. Our goal is to advance stratification and prognostic tools in hepatology for high-risk patients recruited from the Hepatology Department at Université Lyon 1 (HCL), a leading European institution in liver research.
These three levels of addressing liver pathology will enrich liver research practices, aiming for better patient stratification in a context of significant clinical need. This transdisciplinary evolution—spanning theoretical, clinical, and experimental domains in hepatology—could represent a significant step toward raising awareness within the liver community regarding psycho-neuro-intervention or neuropharmacology for the prevention of HCC.
Project leaders:
Romain PARENT
I completed my pharmacy studies in Marseille in 2001 before specializing in virology, conducting my thesis research in Lyon and New York between 2001 and 2004. This period enabled me to gain solid expertise in the field. Subsequently, I pursued a postdoctoral position in Seattle from 2004 to 2008, where I deepened my research and explored new scientific perspectives.
In 2009, I joined Inserm in Lyon, where I held a research position. Alongside my scientific career, I earned a Master’s degree in Humanities in Montpellier in 2018, thereby enriching my interdisciplinary perspective. Since 2013, I have been sharing my knowledge of the humanities within the Lyon Master’s program in Oncology—a field I am deeply passionate about. My career path reflects a constant quest for knowledge and a commitment to sharing my expertise.
Emilie FAVRE
I divide my time between research, teaching, and clinical practice. As a faculty member at the Université Lyon 2, I am affiliated with the Laboratory for the Study of Cognitive Mechanisms and the Institute of Psychology, where I specialize in neuropsychology. This expertise enables me to actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge regarding cognitive functions.
Alongside my academic role, I am a psychologist specializing in neuropsychology, and I have had the opportunity to practice in various clinical settings. My experience includes working in adult neurology and pediatric hepatology departments, as well as with neurodevelopmental disorders and issues related to professional burnout. My career is thus shaped by a dual background in fieldwork and research, consistently focused on understanding brain mechanisms.
