MASLD Team

Veeral Ajmera, MD

Dr. Veeral Ajmera is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Medical Director of Liver Transplantation at the University of California, San Diego. He is a board-certified transplant hepatologist and cares for patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Dr. Ajmera completed Internal Medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard University and Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). At UCSF he also completed a Master’s Degree Program in Clinical Research. Dr. Ajmera is a current member of the UCSD MASLD Research Unit where he collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of experts on research in non-invasive biomarkers, genetics and patient factors associated with disease severity and prognosis. He is a recipient of an American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Clinical and Translational Research Award and an NIDDK K23 Career Development Award for his work on the non-invasive assessment of patients with MASLD. He is a co-investigator for adult hepatology for the NIDDK-sponsored MASH Clinical Research Network and Liver Cirrhosis Network.

Monica Tincopa, MD, MSc

Dr. Monica Tincopa is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California, San Diego. She is board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, transplant hepatology and obesity medicine. Dr. Tincopa obtained her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins and Gastroenterology and Transplant Hepatology fellowships at the University of Michigan (UM). While at UM, Dr. Tincopa also obtained a Master's degree in Health and Healthcare Research. Her research interests involve health disparities and MASLD, with a specific focus on MASLD within the Hispanic/Latino population. Dr. Tincopa cares for patients with both acute and chronic liver disease and evaluates and cares for patients in need of liver transplantation. Dr. Tincopa is a current member of the UCSD MASLD Research Unit where she collaborates with experts on clinical risk prediction modeling and non-invasive testing for chronic liver disease as well as lifestyle interventions and optimization of metabolic conditions in liver disease. She is a recipient of an American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Clinical and Translational Research Award and a grant from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Dr. Tincopa is a co-investigator for adult hepatology for the NIDDK-sponsored MASH Clinical Research Network.

Shravan Dave, MD

Dr. Shravan Dave is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California, San Diego. He is a board-certified transplant hepatologist and gastroenterologist who specializes in general and transplant hepatology, treating chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), autoimmune liver diseases, cirrhosis and liver cancer. He is also involved in the MASLD Research Center as a collaborator on various projects. Dr. Dave completed Internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), followed by a gastroenterology and transplant Hepatology fellowship right here at UC San Diego .

Maral Amangurbanova, MD

Dr. Maral Amangurbanova received her medical degree at Yildirim Beyazit University in Turkey. ​Prior to joining the MASLD Research Center team, she trained as a pulmonologist at Erciyes University and completed a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Amangurbanova’s research focuses on the development of non-invasive methods for monitoring disease progression and evaluating therapeutic interventions in MASLD and advanced fibrosis. She is also interested in studying the epidemiology of liver diseases in patients with diabetes.

Federica Tavaglione, MD, PhD

Dr. Federica Tavaglione is postdoctoral researcher and endocrinologist from Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Italy. Her principal area of research focuses on the risk stratification and non-invasive assessment of MASLD. Her past work includes the development of the Fibrotic NASH Index (FNI), a blood-based biomarker that identifies fibrotic steatohepatitis by combining AST, HDL, and HbA1c. Developed in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, FNI recently exhibited a strong performance in the prediction of fibrosis resolution after bariatric surgery. Dr. Tavaglione joined Dr. Loomba's MASLD Research Center team to pursue cutting-edge research and will be developing novel non-invasive biomarkers for the classification of steatotic liver disease subcategories (MASLD, MetALD, ALD). In her spare time, Dr. Tavaglione enjoys travelling, exploring nature and the wide outdoors, and photography.  

Luis Antonio Diaz Piga, MD

Young-Youn Cho, MD

Lisa Richards, NP

Lisa Richards is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Hepatology. She has greater than 20 years of Hepatology (Liver) experience with her specialty focusing on metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). She was awarded the Associate-Fellow designation in 2020 by the American Association For The Study Of Liver Disease which acknowledges a distinguished group of advanced practice providers for the highest caliber of excellence and leadership. Her expertise in liver disease brings a strong foundation to the MASLD Research Center where she serves as Assistant Director of Clinical Research Operations. She is a co-investigator on physician-initiated and pharmaceutical treatment studies. She and Dr. Loomba have worked together since 2009 and share the same core values of providing exceptional care to our patients.

Egbert Madamba, MD

Egbert has a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and a Medical Doctorate degree. He joined the MASLD Research Center in 2018. He is interested in understanding the etiology and progression of MASH. Outside of the research setting, Egbert enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Paula Hall (Trusewicz), MPH

Harris Siddiqi, B.S.

Harris received his B.S. in Human Biology from UC San Diego and joined MASLD Research Center team in 2022. He is interested in the physiological and genetic mechanisms of disease as well as incorporating precision medicine in disease intervention. Harris plans to pursue a career as a physician. Outside of the lab, Harris enjoys traveling and playing competitive sports such as tennis and basketball.

Kaleb Tesfai, B.S. Candidate

Kaleb is pursuing a B.S. in Public Health with Concentration in Medicine Sciences from UC San Diego. He joined the NAFLD Research Center team in 2020. Kaleb is passionate about the public health implications, in addition to genetic susceptibility to disease, on clinical practice, and aspires to have a career in medicine as a physician. Outside of the lab, Kaleb enjoys free writing and playing basketball.

Diana Cortez-Moreno, B.S.

Diana received her B.S. in Public Health from UC San Diego. She joined the MASLD Research Center team in 2021. Diana’s main area of work is coordinating pharmaceutical trials for MASH and cirrhosis. She is excited about learning about how these investigational treatments affect and prevent the progression of liver disease. Outside of the lab, Diana enjoys hiking, learning to surf, watching movies and exploring new bars and restaurants in San Diego with her friends.

Wathnita Sarik

In 2012, Wathnita Sarik’s interest in biology and patient care led her to obtaining a position as a Phlebotomist for the MASLD Research Center Team. Subsequently, in 2020, Wathnita graduated from Ventura College with an AA in Sociology and got certified as a CNA for the elderly. In 2022, she rejoined the MASLD team as a Research Coordinator. Wathnita’s current goal is to contribute to the efforts of understanding the origins of liver disease and the development of preventative measures. At her leisure, Wathnita can always be caught dancing, exploring new places, or laughing with her family.

Darryl Contrano, B.S

Richele Bettencourt

Ricki received a M.S. in Biostatistics from UCLA and has been performing public health related research for over 30 years. She and Dr. Loomba have been collaborating since 2008, to date, co-authoring 70 academic journal articles related to all aspects of liver disease treatment and diagnosis. In her free time, Ricki enjoys anything that gets her outside, including running, cycling, ocean swimming, and pickle ball.

Seema Singh, PhD

Seema has her PhD in Biotechnology and recently joined Dr. Loomba's team in 2017. Seema ensures that research is conducted in accordance with study protocols, as well as federal, state, institutional and regulatory guidelines. As a coordinator, Seema's priority is to provide exceptional care to her study subjects.

Asma Khan-Riches

Melanie Usher B.S.