Professor, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), CA, USA.
Research Molecular Physiologist, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, CA, USA

Current area of research:
Activation of signaling pathways (NF-kappaB, PI3K) in exocrine pancreatic disorders.
Mechanisms of the inflammatory and cell death responses in pancreatitis. Mechanisms and models of alcoholic pancreatitis. Disordering of lysosomal and autophagic pathways in acute pancreatitis.

70 publications in peer-reviewed journals including Nature, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Gastroenterology, Gut, Autophagy, Clinical & Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and others.

Grant support from NIH/NIDDK and NIH/NIAAA.

Membership: American Gastroenterological Association, American Pancreatic Association, UCLA-CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center, Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, UCLA