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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); Director, Fellowship Program, Digestive Diseases

    Research Interests
    • Autoimmune Diseases
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Bile Ducts
    • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Cystic Fibrosis
    • Hepatitis
    • Immunotherapy
    • Liver
    • Liver Diseases
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Autoimmunity
    • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic
    • Hepatitis, Autoimmune
    • 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
    • Fatty Liver, Alcoholic
    • Obesity
    • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
    • Health Disparate, Minority and Vulnerable Populations
    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
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Carcinoid Tumor
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
    • Liver
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • Metabolism
    • Neoplasm Staging
    • Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion
    • Ablation Techniques
    • Molecular Imaging
    View Full Profile
  • Jonathan Dranoff, MD

    Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

    Research Interests
    • Acetaminophen
    • Fibrosis
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • 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
    • Delivery of Health Care
    • Hepatitis D
    • Fatty Liver
    • Health Services Research
    • Hepatitis B
    • Hepatitis C
    • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
    • Liver Cirrhosis
    • Liver Neoplasms
    • Quality of Health Care
    • Clinical Trial
    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
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Fibrosis
    • Hepatitis
    • Inflammation
    • Liver
    • 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
    • Gastroenterology
    • Gaucher Disease
    • Genotype
    • Glycogen Storage Disease Type I
    • India
    • Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors
    • Multiple Myeloma
    • Pediatrics
    • Phenotype
    • Physiology
    • Lysosomal Storage Diseases
    • alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
    • Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System
    • Lipid Metabolism Disorders
    • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Parkinson Disease Associated Proteins
    View Full Profile
  • Michael H Nathanson, MD, PhD

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

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

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

    Research Interests
    • Copper
    • Liver Transplantation
    • Liver Failure, Acute
    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

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

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases) and of Pathology; Associate Director, Yale MD-PhD Program; Director, Internal Medicine Physician Scientist Training Program

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

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

    Research Interests
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholecystitis
    • Cholelithiasis
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Colonic Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Common Bile Duct Diseases
    • Common Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Abnormalities
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Esophageal Cyst
    • Esophageal Diseases
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gallbladder Diseases
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
    • Glucagonoma
    • Ileal Neoplasms
    • Intestinal Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Rectal Neoplasms
    • Stomach Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Gastrinoma
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Cholecystolithiasis
    • Cholecystitis, Acute
    • Emphysematous Cholecystitis
    • Gallstones
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
    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
    • Colitis
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Crohn Disease
    • Ileitis
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Pouchitis
    • Colitis, Microscopic
    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
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage
    • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
    • Helicobacter pylori
    • Quality Improvement
    View Full Profile
  • Loren Laine, MD

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

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

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

    Research Interests
    • Black or African American
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Genetics, Medical
    • Genetics, Population
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Lynch Syndrome II
    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
    • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Biliary Fistula
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous
    • Cholecystitis
    • Colonic Polyps
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Digestive System
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Esophageal and Gastric Varices
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Intestinal Fistula
    • Intestinal Perforation
    • Intestinal Polyps
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Pancreatitis
    • Proctitis
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Pancreas Transplantation
    • Endoscopy, Digestive System
    • Caroli Disease
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Gallstones
    • Choledocholithiasis
    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
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Crohn Disease
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Ileitis
    • Rectal Fistula
    • Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic
    • Global Health
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    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
    • Molecular Epidemiology
    • Endpoint Determination
    • Nontherapeutic Human Experimentation
    • Therapeutic Human Experimentation
    View Full Profile
  • Marie Robert, MD

    Professor of Pathology and of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

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

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

    Research Interests
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Cholestasis, Extrahepatic
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Cholangitis
    • Cholecystitis
    • Cholelithiasis
    • Cholestasis
    • Cholestasis, Intrahepatic
    • Colonic Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Common Bile Duct Diseases
    • Common Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Digestive System Abnormalities
    • Digestive System Diseases
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Esophageal Cyst
    • Esophageal Diseases
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gallbladder Diseases
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Diseases
    • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
    • Glucagonoma
    • Ileal Neoplasms
    • Intestinal Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Rectal Neoplasms
    • Stomach Neoplasms
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Cholangitis, Sclerosing
    • Gastrinoma
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Cholecystolithiasis
    • Cholecystitis, Acute
    • Emphysematous Cholecystitis
    • Gallstones
    • Choledocholithiasis
    • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
    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
    • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary
    • Barrett Esophagus
    • Bile Duct Neoplasms
    • Biliary Fistula
    • Biliary Tract Diseases
    • Biliary Tract Neoplasms
    • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous
    • Cholecystitis
    • Colonic Polyps
    • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis
    • Digestive System
    • Digestive System Neoplasms
    • Duodenal Neoplasms
    • Esophageal and Gastric Varices
    • Esophageal Fistula
    • Esophageal Neoplasms
    • Gastric Fistula
    • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
    • Intestinal Fistula
    • Intestinal Perforation
    • Intestinal Polyps
    • Pancreatic Cyst
    • Pancreatic Diseases
    • Pancreatic Fistula
    • Pancreatic Neoplasms
    • Pancreatic Pseudocyst
    • Pancreatitis
    • Proctitis
    • Colorectal Neoplasms
    • Choledochal Cyst
    • Pancreas Transplantation
    • Endoscopy, Digestive System
    • Caroli Disease
    • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal
    • Gallstones
    • Choledocholithiasis
    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
    • Colitis
    • Colitis, Ulcerative
    • Crohn Disease
    • Ileitis
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
    • Pouchitis
    • Colitis, Microscopic
    View Full Profile
  • Michelle Hughes, MD

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases); Medical Chief of Quality and Safety, Digestive 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
    • Molecular Epidemiology
    • Endpoint Determination
    • 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

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

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

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