Research News

Nicholas Shaheen investigates early detection and treatment of esophageal cancer Nicholas J. Shaheen, MD, MPH, is the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His group is currently involved in more than 50 research studies. Dr. Shaheen’s research focuses on the prevention, detection, and treatment of precancerous and cancerous conditions of the esophagus. He … Read more

  Darren DeWalt Investigates Aspirin Dosing for People with Coronary Heart Disease Darren DeWalt, MD, MPH, is the site PI for Aspirin Dosing: A Patient-centric Trial Assessing Benefits and Long-Term Effectiveness (ADAPTABLE). In addition to Dr. DeWalt, others in the Department of Medicine that are participating include Joe Rossi in Cardiology and Tim Carey in … Read more

  Dr. Richard Loeser Conducting First Study To Examine How Diet Alters Gut Bacteria, Potentially Leading to Osteoarthritis The old adage, “you are what you eat,” is proving truer than we ever imagined. New research findings illustrate the negative impact Western diets can have upon the naturally occurring bacteria living in the “gut,” (known as … Read more

  UNC Diabetes Care members participating in the ADA’s Diabetes Dance Dare John Buse leads the diabetes clinical trials operation Dr. Buse was key to high profile work published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA that will improve care for diabetics both in achieving glucose control, and limiting cardiovascular disease. … Read more

  Laura Hanson, MD, MPH Laura C. Hanson, MD, MPH Dr. Laura Hanson’s primary research interest has been to understand and improve the quality of palliative care for frail elders, with a focus on dementia care and cancer care—work at the intersection of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. Finding new ways to deliver high quality care … Read more

Dr. Ria Dancel is dually appointed in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Pediatrics. She is the Director of the Medicine Procedure Service, led by proceduralist attendings working with resident physicians to perform diagnostic and therapeutic bedside procedures. This service was created in 2014 in order to provide efficient and safe procedures and … Read more

  Brian Jensen, MD Brian Jensen, MD Dr. Brian Jensen’s clinical and investigative efforts focus on heart failure. The Jensen lab uses animal and cell culture model systems to study the mechanisms of heart injury that lead to the clinical syndrome of heart failure. Dr. Jensen has brought clinical questions from the UNC Heart Failure … Read more

  David Wohl, MD David Alain Wohl, MD That there are only a handful of Ebola-ologists in the world is something that Dr. Wohl, the Site Leader of the UNC AIDS Clinical Trials Unit at Chapel Hill, realized when the massive Ebola outbreak started to peak in 2014. Ebola raged across West Africa and cases … Read more

What are the challenges that patients face in communicating with their physicians, and how do questionnaires work to help? Dr. Ron Falk interviews Dr. Ethan Basch in this podcast about patient-reported outcomes research. Dr. Basch is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UNC, and a Professor of Health Policy … Read more

  Satish Gopal, MD, MPH Satish Gopal, MD, MPH Dr. Gopal went to medical school at Duke University, and trained in medicine-pediatrics at the University of Michigan. He completed medical oncology and infectious diseases fellowships at the University of North Carolina and is board certified in both disciplines. He lived in Tanzania from 2007 until … Read more

  Jenny Flythe, MD, MPH Jenny Flythe, MD, MPH Dr. Flythe is a nephrologist and clinical investigator focused on improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for individuals with dialysis-dependent end-stage kidney disease. She joined the UNC School of Medicine faculty in 2014 after completing her nephrology fellowship and public health training at Brigham and … Read more

Evan Dellon, MD Evan Dellon, MD Dr. Evan Dellon’s research focuses on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic allergy/immune-mediated esophageal disease. This condition is characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and a marked eosinophilic infiltration in the esophageal mucosa, which leads to esophageal strictures and other structural changes. Symptoms of EoE include dysphagia and food impaction … Read more