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Research

Research is one of the cornerstones of our work. Our faculty is committed to advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology and hepatology by pursuing breakthroughs in laboratory and clinical investigation and translating them into excellent patient care. Each year, we receive millions of dollars in funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDKK), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and non-governmental scientific organizations to support our work.

We have a strong tradition of research training and foster an outstanding training environment for the next generation of scientists. Our faculty members work regularly with medical students, residents, clinical fellows, and post-graduates/post-doctorates to conduct and complete research in pursuit of our educational mission.


Major Areas of Research

Hepatology Research

  • Liver cell biology, including genetic and molecular basis of liver diseases, cell metabolism and inflammation, liver growth, stem cells, immunology of healthy and diseased liver
  • Liver disease, including alcohol-related liver disease, steatotic liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, cholestatic liver diseases, and metabolic liver diseases)
    • disease and biomarker development
    • inflammation and fibrosis
    • gender disparities in alcohol-related liver disease
    • novel therapeutic strategies
  • Cirrhosis
    • complications and treatment
    • non-invasive staging
    • treatment modalities
  • Liver cancer:
    • early detection, screening, and diagnosis, including new imaging biomarkers
    • patient management and outcomes
    • palliative care
  • Alcohol use disorder, including treatment
  • Viral hepatitis
    • complications and treatment
  • Liver complications of cystic fibrosis

Hepatology Research Faculty

  • David N. Assis, MD

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Immunotherapy
    • Hepatitis
    • Hepatitis, Autoimmune
    • Liver
    • Liver Diseases
    • Cystic Fibrosis
    • Bile Ducts
    • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic
    • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
    • Autoimmunity
    • Autoimmune Diseases
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
    • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic
    • Translational Research, Biomedical
    View Full Profile
  • Bubu Banini, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Translational Research Director of the Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Clinical Trials as Topic
    • Health Disparate, Minority and Vulnerable Populations
    • Fatty Liver, Alcoholic
    • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    • Obesity
    View Full Profile
  • Julius Chapiro, MD/PhD

    Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Associate Professor , Digestive Diseases; Associate Professor , Biomedical Engineering; Principal Investigator, Yale Interventional Oncology Laboratory , Radiology & Biomedical Imaging; Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Therapies, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging; Associate Director, Clinical and Translational Core, Liver Center

    Research Interests
    • Neoplasm Staging
    • Metabolism
    • Molecular Imaging
    • Carcinoid Tumor
    • Ablation Techniques
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion
    • Liver
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    View Full Profile
  • Jonathan Dranoff, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

    Research Interests
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Fibrosis
    • Acetaminophen
    • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
    • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    View Full Profile
  • Joseph Lim, MD

    Professor of Medicine; Director, Clinical Hepatology, Digestive Diseases; Vice-Chief of Hepatology, Section of Digestive Diseases, Digestive Diseases; Director, Yale Viral Hepatitis Program

    Research Interests
    • Clinical Trial
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Delivery of Health Care
    • Health Services Research
    • Fatty Liver
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C
    • Hepatitis D
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Liver Neoplasms
    • Quality of Health Care
    View Full Profile
  • Wajahat Mehal, MD, DPhil

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Yale Weight Loss Program; Director of Yale Fatty Liver Disease Program

    Research Interests
    • Hepatitis
    • Fibrosis
    • Liver
    • Inflammation
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Weight Loss
    • Weight Reduction Programs
    View Full Profile
  • Pramod Mistry, MBBS, PhD, MA, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) and of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology); Professor of Cellular & Molecular Physiology; Director of Yale Lysosomal Disease Center and Gaucher Disease Treatment Center

    Research Interests
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Egypt
    • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Glycogen Storage Disease Type I
    • Gastroenterology
    • Gaucher Disease
    • Genotype
    • alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
    • Phenotype
    • Physiology
    • Parkinson Disease Associated Proteins
    • Pediatrics
    • Lipid Metabolism Disorders
    • Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors
    • India
    • Lysosomal Storage Diseases
    • Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System
    • Multiple Myeloma
    View Full Profile
  • Michael H Nathanson, MD, PhD

    Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) and Professor of Cell Biology; Co-Director, Yale Liver Center, Digestive Diseases; Director, Center for Cell and Molecular Imaging

    Research Interests
    • Cell Nucleus
    • Calcium Signaling
    • Cell Biology
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Liver
    • Hepatocytes
    View Full Profile
  • Michael Schilsky, MD

    Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Adult Liver Transplant, Yale New Haven Transplantation Center

    Research Interests
    • Liver Failure, Acute
    • Liver Transplantation
    • Copper
    View Full Profile

Gastroenterology Research

  • Bile duct system and biliary diseases:
    • biliary cell biology
    • bile formation and excretion
    • pathophysiological mechanisms of biliary disease
    • cholangitis
    • cholestasis
    • acute/chronic pancreatitis
  • IBD (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
    • intestinal immune homeostasis
    • preventive care
    • pregnancy and IBD
    • therapeutics, including efficacy and safety of advanced therapies, comparative effectiveness research, and complementary therapies
    • patient outcomes
  • Upper GI tract injury, GI bleeding, and H. pylori
  • Gastrointestinal and colon cancers
    • cell biology
    • prevention
    • identification and screening, including refining testing criteria
    • management of patients with hereditary and early-onset cancers
    • population cancer genetics
  • Motility disorders of the esophagus
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Complex polypectomies
  • Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction
  • Pancreatic cancer, including evaluation and patient management
  • Celiac disease

Gastroenterology Research Faculty

  • Clara Abraham, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

    Research Interests
    • Genetics
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Crohn Disease
    • Inflammation
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Immune System
    • Intestines
    • Immunity, Innate
    • Molecular Biology
    • T-Lymphocytes
    View Full Profile
  • James Farrell

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director, Yale Center for Pancreatic Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Cholecystitis
    • Cholecystitis, Acute
    • Cholecystolithiasis
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Cholelithiasis
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
    • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
    • Gallbladder Diseases
    • Gallstones
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrinoma
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
    • Esophageal Cyst
    • Esophageal Diseases
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Emphysematous Cholecystitis
    • Colonic Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Common Bile Duct Diseases
    • Common Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Abnormalities
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases
    • Glucagonoma
    • Intestinal Neoplasms
    • Ileal Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Stomach Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Rectal Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    View Full Profile
  • Jill Gaidos, MD

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Clinical Research, Yale Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program; Vice Chief of Clinical Research, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Crohn Disease
    • Colitis
    • Colitis, Microscopic
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Ileitis
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Pouchitis
    View Full Profile
  • Kenneth Hung, MD, MS

    Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Associate Fellowship Program Director, Digestive Diseases; Gastroenterology Elective Director - YNHH, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage
    • Quality Improvement
    • Helicobacter pylori
    • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    View Full Profile
  • Loren Laine, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Chief, Section of Digestive Diseases, Internal Medicine; Chief, Section of Digestive Diseases; Medical Chief, Digestive Health, Yale New Haven Health

    Research Interests
    • Peptic Ulcer
    • Helicobacter pylori
    • Anti-Ulcer Agents
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
    • Gastroesophageal Reflux
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Dyspepsia
    View Full Profile
  • Xavier Llor, MD, PhD

    Professor of Medicine; Director, GI and Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Lynch Syndrome II
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Genetics, Medical
    • Genetics, Population
    • Black or African American
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    View Full Profile
  • Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, FACG, FRCP

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Vice-Chief (Endoscopy), Digestive Diseases; Director of Advanced Endoscopy, YNHHS; Associate Chief of Endoscopy, Digestive Health; Director, Yale Center for Pancreatitis; Director, Bariatric Endoscopy

    Research Interests
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Caroli Disease
    • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous
    • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Biliary Fistula
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Cholecystitis
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Colonic Polyps
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Intestinal Fistula
    • Intestinal Perforation
    • Intestinal Polyps
    • Digestive System
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Endoscopy, Digestive System
    • Esophageal and Gastric Varices
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gallstones
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Pancreas Transplantation
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Pancreatitis
    • Proctitis
    View Full Profile
  • Deborah Proctor, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Medical Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program; Site Director, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Columbia and Yale/Stanford, Johnson and Johnson Global Health Scholar Program; President and Board of Directors, Honduras Children's Project, Internal Medicine

    Research Interests
    • Rectal Fistula
    • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Ileitis
    • Global Health
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Crohn Disease
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    View Full Profile
  • Petr Protiva, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Adjunct Faculty at Breslow Lab, Rockefeller University, New York, NY

    Research Interests
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Endpoint Determination
    • Molecular Epidemiology
    • Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation
    • Therapeutic Human Experimentation
    View Full Profile
  • Marie Robert, MD

    Professor of Pathology and of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

    Research Interests
    • Pathology
    • Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia
    • Colonic Neoplasms
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    View Full Profile
  • Dennis Shung, MD, MHS, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Digital Health, Digestive Diseases; Director of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation; Director of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Clinical and Translational Research Accelerator (CTRA)

    Research Interests
    • Data Science
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Machine Learning
    • Medical Informatics
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Health Services Accessibility
    View Full Profile
  • Louise Wang, MD, MSCE

    Assistant Professor

    Research Interests
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Early Detection of Cancer
    • Epidemiology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Genetics
    • Informatics
    • Internal Medicine
    • Machine Learning
    • Natural Language Processing
    • Veterans
    View Full Profile

Endoscopy Research

  • Endoscopic diagnosis and outcomes
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided therapy, including in early intestinal malignancy, bariatrics, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pancreatic biliary disorders
  • Advanced endoscopic imaging techniques
  • Improving ergonomics in endoscopy

Endoscopy Research Faculty

  • Harry Aslanian, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Endoscopic Ultrasound, Digestive Diseases; Associate Director, Endoscopy; Director, Yale Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Esophageal Achalasia
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gallbladder Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
    • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
    • Endoscopy
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Diseases
    • Colonic Polyps
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
    • Cholelithiasis
    • Stomach Neoplasms
    • Zenker Diverticulum
    • Pancreas
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatitis
    View Full Profile
  • James Farrell

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director, Yale Center for Pancreatic Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Cholecystitis
    • Cholecystitis, Acute
    • Cholecystolithiasis
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Cholelithiasis
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
    • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
    • Gallbladder Diseases
    • Gallstones
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrinoma
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
    • Esophageal Cyst
    • Esophageal Diseases
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Emphysematous Cholecystitis
    • Colonic Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Common Bile Duct Diseases
    • Common Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Abnormalities
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases
    • Glucagonoma
    • Intestinal Neoplasms
    • Ileal Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Stomach Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Rectal Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    View Full Profile
  • Thiruvengadam Muniraj, MD, FACG, FRCP

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Vice-Chief (Endoscopy), Digestive Diseases; Director of Advanced Endoscopy, YNHHS; Associate Chief of Endoscopy, Digestive Health; Director, Yale Center for Pancreatitis; Director, Bariatric Endoscopy

    Research Interests
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Caroli Disease
    • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous
    • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Biliary Fistula
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Cholecystitis
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Colonic Polyps
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Intestinal Fistula
    • Intestinal Perforation
    • Intestinal Polyps
    • Digestive System
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Endoscopy, Digestive System
    • Esophageal and Gastric Varices
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gallstones
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Pancreas Transplantation
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Pancreatitis
    • Proctitis
    View Full Profile

Care Delivery and Quality Research

  • Improving the delivery of care, including for helicobacter pylori and gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Cancer prevention and patient tracking
  • Quality improvement, including in ambulatory and inpatient gastroenterology and IBD

Care Delivery and Quality Research Faculty

  • Jill Gaidos, MD

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Clinical Research, Yale Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program; Vice Chief of Clinical Research, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Crohn Disease
    • Colitis
    • Colitis, Microscopic
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Ileitis
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Pouchitis
    View Full Profile
  • Michelle Hughes, MD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Medical Chief of Quality and Safety, Digestive Health, Yale New Haven Health

    Research Interests
    • Quality Improvement
    View Full Profile
  • Petr Protiva, MD, MPH

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Adjunct Faculty at Breslow Lab, Rockefeller University, New York, NY

    Research Interests
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Endpoint Determination
    • Molecular Epidemiology
    • Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation
    • Therapeutic Human Experimentation
    View Full Profile
  • Tamar Taddei, MD

    Professor of Internal Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Vice Chief, Faculty Development, Digestive Diseases; Chief, Digestive Diseases, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, VA Connecticut Health Care System

    Research Interests
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Translational Research, Biomedical
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Delivery of Health Care
    View Full Profile

Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence Research

  • Application of machine learning and generative AI to gastrointestinal diseases, including predicting risk and AI safety in clinical contexts
  • AI solutions for the management of disease, including liver cancer
  • Electronic health records (EHR) and population-based biobank research, including to screen and identify patients at high-risk of pancreatic cancer

Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence Research Faculty

  • Julius Chapiro, MD/PhD

    Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Associate Professor , Digestive Diseases; Associate Professor , Biomedical Engineering; Principal Investigator, Yale Interventional Oncology Laboratory , Radiology & Biomedical Imaging; Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Therapies, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging; Associate Director, Clinical and Translational Core, Liver Center

    Research Interests
    • Neoplasm Staging
    • Metabolism
    • Molecular Imaging
    • Carcinoid Tumor
    • Ablation Techniques
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion
    • Liver
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    View Full Profile
  • Dennis Shung, MD, MHS, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Director of Digital Health, Digestive Diseases; Director of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation; Director of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Clinical and Translational Research Accelerator (CTRA)

    Research Interests
    • Data Science
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Machine Learning
    • Medical Informatics
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Health Services Accessibility
    View Full Profile
  • Louise Wang, MD, MSCE

    Assistant Professor

    Research Interests
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Early Detection of Cancer
    • Epidemiology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Genetics
    • Informatics
    • Internal Medicine
    • Machine Learning
    • Natural Language Processing
    • Veterans
    View Full Profile

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