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Timothy R. Billiar, MD

Research Interests

Currently, Dr. Billiar is involved in several research projects within the Billiar Lab. The main research interest of the laboratory is the regulation and function of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Other areas of interest include apoptosis, gene therapy, hypoxia, shock, inflammation and liver disease. Dr. Billiar's lab is a prime example of a productive and well-funded lab with both PhDs and MDs working together in a coordinated fashion for the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of science.

As a result of his research, Dr. Billiar has gained an international reputation for his contributions to understanding the role of nitric oxide in gene therapy, trauma, liver disease, and other potential clinical applications. He holds six US patents associated with his research.

Selected Publications

View Dr. Billiar's publications on PubMed

  1. Lei Z, Deng M, Yi Z, Sun Q, Shapiro RA, Xu H, Li T, Loughran PA, Griepentrog JE, Huang H, Scott MJ, Huang F, Billiar TR. cGAS-mediated autophagy protects the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury independently of STING. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2018 Jun 1;314(6):G655-G667. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6032062.
  2. Li S, Yi Z, Deng M, Scott MJ, Yang C, Li W, Lei Z, Santerre NM, Loughran P, Billiar TR. TSLP protects against liver I/R injury via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. JCI Insight. 2019 Nov 14;4(22) PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6948857.
  3. Tsung A, Sahai R, Tanaka H, Nakao A, Fink MP, Lotze MT, Yang H, Li J, Tracey KJ, Geller DA, Billiar TR. The nuclear factor HMGB1 mediates hepatic injury after murine liver ischemia-reperfusion. J Exp Med. 2005 Apr 4;201(7):1135-43. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2213120.
  4. Yi Z, Deng M, Scott MJ, Fu G, Loughran PA, Lei Z, Li S, Sun P, Yang C, Li W, Xu H, Huang F, Billiar TR. Immune-Responsive Gene 1/Itaconate Activates Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 in Hepatocytes to Protect Against Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Hepatology. 2020 Oct;72(4):1394-1411. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7702080.
  5. Deng M, Loughran PA, Zhang L, Scott MJ, Billiar TR. Shedding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor from the surface of hepatocytes during sepsis limits inflammation through cGMP signaling. Sci Signal. 2015 Jan 27;8(361):ra11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4766373.
  6. Geller DA, Lowenstein CJ, Shapiro RA, Nussler AK, Di Silvio M, Wang SC, Nakayama DK, Simmons RL, Snyder SH, Billiar TR. Molecular cloning and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 15;90(8):3491-5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC46326.
  7. Loughran PA, Stolz DB, Barrick SR, Wheeler DS, Friedman PA, Rachubinski RA, Watkins SC, Billiar TR. PEX7 and EBP50 target iNOS to the peroxisome in hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2013 May 31;31:9-19. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642215.
  8. Wang R, Li Y, Tsung A, Huang H, Du Q, Yang M, Deng M, Xiong S, Wang X, Zhang L, Geller DA, Cheng B, Billiar TR. iNOS promotes CD24(+)CD133(+) liver cancer stem cell phenotype through a TACE/ADAM17-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 23;115(43):E10127-E10136. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6205478.
  9. Deng M, Loughran PA, Zhang L, Scott MJ, Billiar TR. Shedding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor from the surface of hepatocytes during sepsis limits inflammation through cGMP signaling. Sci Signal. 2015 Jan 27;8(361):ra11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4766373.
  10. Geller DA, Lowenstein CJ, Shapiro RA, Nussler AK, Di Silvio M, Wang SC, Nakayama DK, Simmons RL, Snyder SH, Billiar TR. Molecular cloning and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 15;90(8):3491-5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC46326.
  11. Loughran PA, Stolz DB, Barrick SR, Wheeler DS, Friedman PA, Rachubinski RA, Watkins SC, Billiar TR. PEX7 and EBP50 target iNOS to the peroxisome in hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2013 May 31;31:9-19. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642215.
  12. Wang R, Li Y, Tsung A, Huang H, Du Q, Yang M, Deng M, Xiong S, Wang X, Zhang L, Geller DA, Cheng B, Billiar TR. iNOS promotes CD24(+)CD133(+) liver cancer stem cell phenotype through a TACE/ADAM17-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 23;115(43):E10127-E10136. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6205478.
  13. Deng M, Loughran PA, Zhang L, Scott MJ, Billiar TR. Shedding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor from the surface of hepatocytes during sepsis limits inflammation through cGMP signaling. Sci Signal. 2015 Jan 27;8(361):ra11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4766373.
  14. Geller DA, Lowenstein CJ, Shapiro RA, Nussler AK, Di Silvio M, Wang SC, Nakayama DK, Simmons RL, Snyder SH, Billiar TR. Molecular cloning and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 15;90(8):3491-5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC46326.
  15. Loughran PA, Stolz DB, Barrick SR, Wheeler DS, Friedman PA, Rachubinski RA, Watkins SC, Billiar TR. PEX7 and EBP50 target iNOS to the peroxisome in hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2013 May 31;31:9-19. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642215.
  16. Wang R, Li Y, Tsung A, Huang H, Du Q, Yang M, Deng M, Xiong S, Wang X, Zhang L, Geller DA, Cheng B, Billiar TR. iNOS promotes CD24(+)CD133(+) liver cancer stem cell phenotype through a TACE/ADAM17-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 23;115(43):E10127-E10136. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6205478.
  17. Deng M, Loughran PA, Zhang L, Scott MJ, Billiar TR. Shedding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor from the surface of hepatocytes during sepsis limits inflammation through cGMP signaling. Sci Signal. 2015 Jan 27;8(361):ra11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4766373.
  18. Geller DA, Lowenstein CJ, Shapiro RA, Nussler AK, Di Silvio M, Wang SC, Nakayama DK, Simmons RL, Snyder SH, Billiar TR. Molecular cloning and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 15;90(8):3491-5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC46326.
  19. Loughran PA, Stolz DB, Barrick SR, Wheeler DS, Friedman PA, Rachubinski RA, Watkins SC, Billiar TR. PEX7 and EBP50 target iNOS to the peroxisome in hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2013 May 31;31:9-19. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642215.
  20. Wang R, Li Y, Tsung A, Huang H, Du Q, Yang M, Deng M, Xiong S, Wang X, Zhang L, Geller DA, Cheng B, Billiar TR. iNOS promotes CD24(+)CD133(+) liver cancer stem cell phenotype through a TACE/ADAM17-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 23;115(43):E10127-E10136. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6205478.
  21. Deng M, Loughran PA, Zhang L, Scott MJ, Billiar TR. Shedding of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor from the surface of hepatocytes during sepsis limits inflammation through cGMP signaling. Sci Signal. 2015 Jan 27;8(361):ra11. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4766373.
  22. Geller DA, Lowenstein CJ, Shapiro RA, Nussler AK, Di Silvio M, Wang SC, Nakayama DK, Simmons RL, Snyder SH, Billiar TR. Molecular cloning and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase from human hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Apr 15;90(8):3491-5. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC46326.
  23. Loughran PA, Stolz DB, Barrick SR, Wheeler DS, Friedman PA, Rachubinski RA, Watkins SC, Billiar TR. PEX7 and EBP50 target iNOS to the peroxisome in hepatocytes. Nitric Oxide. 2013 May 31;31:9-19. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3642215.
  24. Wang R, Li Y, Tsung A, Huang H, Du Q, Yang M, Deng M, Xiong S, Wang X, Zhang L, Geller DA, Cheng B, Billiar TR. iNOS promotes CD24(+)CD133(+) liver cancer stem cell phenotype through a TACE/ADAM17-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Oct 23;115(43):E10127-E10136. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6205478.