In addition to providing the best possible and individualized care for patients with various liver disorders, we, at the Clinical Liver Research group at Indiana University School of Medicine, strongly believe that clinical research is vital to improve the understanding and treatment of liver diseases. Through clinical trials and studies, we hope to investigate the safety and efficacy of new drugs and treatment interventions that can ultimately lead to improved outcomes for our patients.
The founder of the Clinical Liver Research group, Dr. Naga Chalasani, has guided this team to the success and discovering ground-breaking research in the hepatology field. Dr. Chalasani started his career at IU as an Assistant Professor and rose to the position of Division Director (2007-2020). From 2020 - 2021, he served as the interim Chair of the Department of Medicine and currently serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Indiana University Health.
In 2022, the Naga P. Chalasani Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology endowment was created to honor Dr. Chalasani, his important contributions to the Division, the department, and the field. The campaign was very successful in raising a total of $2.3 million dollars, and the recipient of this title is current Division Chief Dr. Mohammad Al-Haddad. Continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1999, Dr. Chalasani is currently the PI on several U01 and R01 awards from the NIH. He is considered an authority in the fields of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI), two highly significant public health problems. Dr. Chalasani is one of the most published and most cited investigators at Indiana University, with Google Scholar H-Index 105 and 60,000 citations. He has mentored more than 100 trainees and junior faculty members with 19 of his former mentees in faculty positions at major academic centers and 12 are current or former recipients of federal funding. During his tenure as the Division Chief, Dr. Chalasani took the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology to new heights, acclaiming national and international reputation, and leading excellence in health care, cutting edge research and teaching.
By participating in clinical research, patients have the opportunity to receive cutting-edge treatments, gain access to leading experts in the field, and contribute to the development of new therapies that can potentially benefit future generations. Furthermore, the impact of clinical research extends far beyond the immediate benefits to individual patients. The knowledge gained through clinical trials and studies can inform clinical practice guidelines and influence public health policy, ultimately leading to improved healthcare outcomes for all. It is important to note that without the participation of volunteers, clinical research would come to a halt. It is the altruism and generosity of patients and their families that allows researchers to make significant strides in the fight against liver disorders.
Our group has long recognized the importance of clinical research in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient outcomes. We are grateful for the patients and families who participate in clinical trials and studies, and we remain committed to conducting rigorous research that can positively impact the lives of those affected by liver disorders.
The IU Clinical Liver Research faculty are widely published in leading journals as a result of their work. More than 1,100 publications to date have been circulated.