Overview

DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY &
HEPATOLOGY
OVERVIEW
Professor and Director
The Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology offers high James F. King Endowed
quality comprehensive care for patients with acute and chronic gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. The outpatient clinical practice continues to be very busy. Our outpatient clinical practice is predominantly at the Doctor’s Office Professor
Building on the main campus, but we do have a large service at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, we provide outpatient services at St. Mary’s Health Center, Missouri Baptist Hosital, and we staff an outreach clinic at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin, IL. On average, we see over 1,800 outpatients per month at these venues. We perform Adjunct Professor
over 840 endoscopy procedures per month and routinely see Bruce R. Bacon
between 250 and 275 new patients per month. In addition, we staff 3 inpatient services at Saint Louis University Hospital (general GI, liver, and Clinical Professor
Both clinical and basic research activities are active. Our GI clinical studies unit sees on average 130 clinical research patients each month for ongoing research protocols. Associate Professor
In FY ’08, we had over 38 active clinical protocols and we were either principal investigator or co-investigator on 27 NIH grants or contracts. Dr. Adrian M. Di Bisceglie presented the final results of the NIH-sponsored HALT C Study evaluating the efficacy of maintenance therapy with interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced liver disease who have failed to respond to traditional antiviral Associate Research
therapy. Further, Dr. Bacon presented the results of a large multicenter trial called the Professor
DIRECT trial which evaluated the retreatment of patients who had previously failed to respond to antiviral therapy. Dr. Brent Tetri is the principal investigator for the Saint Louis University site of a large NIH-sponsored study evaluating patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Approximately 2.5 million dollars in research Adjunct Associate Professor
funding is received each year to support these and other projects. The Saint Louis University Liver Center continues to be a viable entity with over 40 members, regular conferences and a funding source for clinical and basic investigation within the Associate Clinical
Professor
Educational activities include teaching subspecialty residents, Internal Medicine housestaff and medical students in both inpatient and outpatient gastroenterology and hepatology. Several conferences take place throughout the month including GI Hepato Tumor Conference, Liver Pathology Conference, General GI Colorectal Path, Clinical Case Management, Motility Conference, Research Conference, Journal Club, Pancreatobiliary Journal Club, GI Fellows Case Conference, GI Grand Rounds, Research Conference, Pathophysiology Conference -and Liver Transplant Conference Assistant Professor
as well as the various conferences hosted by the Department of Internal Medicine. The Division has an active visiting professor program and our faculty members participate in visiting professor programs nationally and internationally. The division has arranged to have an International Visiting Professor of Hepatology every year for the last 12 years as shown below. We have been pleased to host Assistant Research
prominent figures in hepatology from around the world and asked them to visit our Professor
institution, interact with our faculty and meet our trainees. 1996 Oliver James, M.D., Professor, Senior Research Investigator, Newcastle
DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY &
HEPATOLOGY
1997 Michael P. Manns, M.D., Director and Professor, Division of
Adjunct Assistant
Gastroenterology. Medizimsche Hochsule Hanover, Hanover School of Professor
1998 Geoffrey C. Farrell, M.D., Storr Professor of Hepatic Medicine, University
Emeritus Assistant
of Sydney Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia Clinical Professor
1999 Lawrie W. Powell, M.D., Director, Queensland Institute of Medical
Research, Professor, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Assistant Clinical
Professor
2000 Juan Rodés, M.D., Professor, Hospital Clinic I Provincial De Barcelona,
2001 Michael C. Kew, M.B.B.Ch., F.C.P. (SA), M.D., Dora Dart Professor of
Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, 2002 Didier Lebrec, M.D., F.R.C.P., Directeur de Recherche, Inserm Institute
National De La Sante, Clichy Cedex, France 2003 John G. O’Grady, MB, BCh, BAO, NUI, FRCPI, M.D., King’s College
2004 Peter Ferenci, M.D., Professor, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
2005 Elizabeth “Jenny” Heathcote, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.P.(C), Professor,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2006 James M. Neuberger, M.D., F.R.C.P., Consultant Physician and Honorary,
Professor of Medicine, Liver Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, Instructor
2007 Stefan Zeuzem, M.D., Professor, J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt,
Senior Clinical Instructor
In FY’08, the faculty of the Division published over 56 original papers, reviews, and book chapters. The Division directs several regional CME courses designed for Clinical Instructor
practicing physicians. The GI Cancers course, organized by Dr. Banke Agarwal has been an extremely successful educational endeavor bringing together over 300 participants from around the country. Over the last year, we have had an evening Post-Doctoral Fellows
dinner debate series that has been very successful. The Division continues to work closely with the lay group called the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center, which is a charitable not-for-profit organization Office Manager
devoted to raising money to support research and education at the Liver Center. Each fall, there is a fundraising event called Denim & Diamonds. This event has featured performances by Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, and inspirational speaking by Business Manager
Naomi Judd, Charlie Armey, and by Dr. Frank O’Donnell. Over the last 5 years of this event, the Friend’s have raised over $1.6 million to support research and education for the Saint Louis University Liver Center. DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY &
HEPATOLOGY
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Banke Agarwal, M.D.
Best Doctors 2007 Vice-Chair, UGI section, Annual Scientific Program Committee, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Listed in Consumer Research Council’s “America’s Top Physicians” Marquis Who’s Who in America, 62st Edition Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering Marquis Who’s Who in the World 2007, 25th Anniversary Edition Best Doctors 2007 Certificate of Added Qualification Board on Transplant Hepatology, American Board of Internal Medicine Member, Advisory Committee for the National Institutes of Health’s Commission on Digestive Diseases American Medical Association Physician's Recognition Award Emerging Leaders in Gastroenterology Award Plenary Session presentations at the VA National HSR&D Meeting NEW FACULTY ENTERING THE DIVISION IN 2007
Cindy X. Cai, M.D., Assistant Research Professor, joined the Division of Gastroenterology in July 2007. Her current research projects include 1) insulin-mediated signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of NASH and hepatic fibrogenesis, and 2) nuclear ferritin in the protection against DNA damage. Glenn L. Gordon, M.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, received his training in gastroenterology at the University of Chicago. He is transitioning to full-time in the Division of Gastroenterology and currently splits his time between his private practice of gastroenterology in Mexico, Missouri and SLUCare. DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY &
HEPATOLOGY
GRANTS AND CONTRACTS HELD BY EACH FACULTY MEMBER
Institute for Science and Health, “Immunohistochemical panel of markers to aid in early diagnosis of pancreatic cancers”, 2006-2008, $30,000. Saint Louis University Liver Center Award, “Regulation of Hepcidin Expression,” 2005-2008, $60,000. Mayo Clinic subcontract, NIH R01 DK56924, “Randomized Trial of High-Dose URSO in PSC Principal,” 2007-2008, $31,086. University of Michigan subcontract, NIH/NIDDK U01 CA 084986, “Validation of Serum Markers for the Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma,” 2004-2007, $35,800. Saint Louis University Liver Center Award, “When a Cure Isn’t Possible,” 2005-2008, $29,700. NIH/NIDDK R01 DK063016, “Role of Transferrin Receptor 2 in Iron Homeostasis,” 2004-2009, $940,000. Saint Louis University Liver Center Career Development Award, “Identifying Novel Therapeutics for NASH Using ALIOS Mouse Model and Signalling Pathways in Hepatic Stellate Cells,” 2007-2008, $ 54,000. Ellison Medical Foundation, “Nuclear ferritin may protect against oxidative and light-induced DNA damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells,” 2007-2010, $150,000. NIH/NIDDK N01 DK92324, “Hepatitis C Clinical Trial Center: Prevention of Cirrhosis, Hepatic Decompensation, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C,” 1999-2008, $3,052,421. NIH/NIDDK N01 DK92324, “HALT-C Immunology Ancillary Study,” 1999-2008, $404,133. Drexel University subcontract, NIH/NCI 2U01 CA084951-06, “Early Detection of Liver Cancer,” 2004-2009, $53,541. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research & Development, VA Merit Review Award, “Quality of Care Among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection,” 2008-2011, $644,000. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, “Quality of Endoscopic Care in Patients with Cirrhosis,” 2008-2010, $75,000. DIVISION OF GASTROENTEROLOGY &
HEPATOLOGY
Mayo Clinic subcontract, NIH/NIDDK 5 U01 DK065713, “Antidepressant Therapy for Functional Dyspepsia,” 2005-2010, $245,451. Mayo Clinic, NIH/NCI N01-CN35000, “Randomized, Double-Blinded Phase II Trial of Esomeprazole versus Esomeproazole + Two Doses of Aspirin in Barrett’s Esophagus Patients,” 2006-2008, $135,000. American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, “ABIM Practice Improvement Modules (PIMs),” 2007, $4,000. NIH/NIDDK R01 DK080711-01, “Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies in the Resistance to Anitivrial Therapy,” 2008-2013, $1,470,000. Saint Louis University Liver Center Award, “Oxidant Stress and the Pathogenesis of NASH,” 2006-2008, $65,000. National Pancreas Foundation, “Role of the angiotensin receptor type 2 (AT2) in regulating pancreatic stellate cell apoptosis during recovery from injury,” 2006-2008, $25,000. NIH/NIDDK 1 R01-DK061992, “Molecular Mechanisms of Pancreatic Fibrogenesis,” 2004-2008, $1,015,394. NIH/NIDDK 5 U01-DK061718, “Hyperinsulinemia and the Pathogenesis of NASH,” 2002-2009, $4,576,622. During fiscal year 2008 the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology had 34 studies with different sponsors. Due to confidentiality agreements and non-publicity clauses in contracts with sponsors, specific information pertaining to industry sponsored research may not be released in public documents.

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