Bubu Banini, MD, PhD

Bubu Banini MD/PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. Dr. Banini began translational research as an undergraduate student, subsequently pursuing a combined MD/PhD in genetics and molecular biology. After residency and chief residency in internal medicine, her interest in research led her to a postdoctoral research fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where she studied mechanisms of liver inflammation, fibrosis and hepatocellular cancer. She continued this research with a four-year NIH-sponsored T-32 research/clinical fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). There she studied basic and translational research in liver inflammation and fibrosis. Dr. Banini then pursued an additional year of training in transplant hepatology and was involved in developing standards and guidelines for liver transplant candidacy in patients with severe AH.

Dr. Banini is mentored by Drs Ismene Petrakis, Wajahat Mehal, and Vasilis Vasiliou. Dr. Banini is currently completing her first year of 50% salary support. Her progress includes:

• R01DK134624-01 (pending 13th percentile). Oral digoxin for the treatment of NASH.
• 2023 Yale Cancer Disparities Award titled “Reducing disparities in liver cancer outcomes in Connecticut” $125,000.
• Developed and organized YCARE (Yale Conference for Alcohol Research and Education) with the aim to increase integration and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders at Yale. The 2023 conference was attending by 110 participants, including NIAAA staff.