SUMMARY
Denise M. Harnois, D.O., is a transplant hepatologist with more than 25 years of clinical and research experience in liver disease and transplantation. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for patients with liver disease, particularly those undergoing liver transplantation, and on the management of hepatobiliary malignancies. Dr. Harnois has led and contributed to numerous clinical protocols and research initiatives, including studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute on primary sclerosing cholangitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. She integrates biomarker discovery, advanced imaging techniques and multidisciplinary strategies to improve diagnosis, treatment and post-transplant care.
Dr. Harnois plays a central role in collaborative efforts across Mayo Clinic to develop comprehensive databases and biospecimen repositories that support research and innovation in liver cancer.
Focus areas
- Liver transplantation for cancer. Dr. Harnois contributes to advancing clinical knowledge of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in liver transplant settings. Her research includes identifying biomarkers to detect recurrence early and exploring strategies to expand donor eligibility. She also evaluates radiation segmentectomy and other interventional therapies aimed at improving transplant outcomes for patients with cirrhosis and HCC.
- Gastrointestinal malignancies in liver disease. Dr. Harnois investigates the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers in patients with liver disease, especially those undergoing liver transplantation. She has helped develop protocols to assess transplant eligibility and guide postoperative care, supporting liver transplantation as a lifesaving option for select patients with cholangiocarcinoma and colorectal metastases.
- Cholangiocarcinoma detection and treatment. Dr. Harnois leads efforts to improve early detection and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, particularly in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. She compares imaging modalities and supports the use of neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by liver transplantation, demonstrating improved survival and therapeutic effectiveness.
- Biomarker development and clinical trials. Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Harnois explores novel serum markers and extracellular noncoding RNA biomarkers for liver cancers. These studies aim to refine diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Harnois' research helps healthcare professionals find liver cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. She studies new ways to detect cancer and improve the chances of a successful transplant. She also helps create guidelines to decide who can safely get a liver transplant, ensuring care is safe and beneficial for each person. Her work helps more people with serious liver disease get the treatment they need and live longer, healthier lives.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Member, Transplant Specialty Council, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2024-present.
- Member, Clinical Practice Quality Operations Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2021-present.
- Chair, Clinical Practice Committee, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2020-present.
- Chair, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2020-present.
- Member, Clinical Practice Quality Executive Subcommittee, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2017-2023.
- American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases:
- Member, Continuing Medical Education Committee, 2022-present.
- Member, Clinical Research Committee, 2016-present.
- Fellow, 2010-present.
- Reviewer, Research Awards Committee, 2016-2020.
- Member, European Association for the Study of the Liver, 2020-present.
- American Gastroenterological Association:
- Fellow, 2013-present.
- Member, 1994-present.