My primary interests are in studying the defects in the bile secretion in many chronic liver diseases by examining various aspects of pH regulation and ion transport in hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells. My current project involves studying the effects of various neuroendocrine peptides and inflammatory mediators on the bile duct secretion and their secondary messenger systems using newly isolated functional and polarized bile duct units and bile duct cells. Furthermore, I am also studying liver problems in cystic fibrosis by using cystic fibrosis knockout mouse model. In addition, my other recent research interests include study of apoptosis in bile duct cells, which appears to be an important mechanism in many pathologic processes such as in neoplasm and toxic liver injury. Cholestatic Liver Diseases, Colon Cancer and other GI and Hepatic Cancers, General GI and Hepatology . My current research interests are to develop sensitive and specific biomarkers for early diagnosis of colorectal cancer but want to expand my research into other GI/liver cancers such as esophageal/gastric cancer and hepatoma.
