Pankaj Jay Pasricha

Clinical Focus

• Neurogastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Motility
• Gastroparesis
• Abdominal Pain
• Chronic Pancreatitis
• Esophageal Achalasia

Administrative Appointments

• Chair, NIDDK Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium (2006 - present)
• Member, National Commission on Digestive Diseases (2006 - present)
• Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2007 - present)

Honors and Awards

• Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors (2001-present)
• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2003-present)

Professional Education

• Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD (1992)
• Fellowship: Tufts-New England Medical Center, MA (1990)
• Residency: DC General Hospital - Verification Clerk, DC (1988)
• Medical Education: All India Institute of Medical Science, INDIA (1983)
• Board Certification: Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine (1988)

Research Interests

THE ENTERIC NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS AND PAIN (END PAIN) LABORATORY AT STANFORD
The defining theme in my research is the translation of fundamental knowledge to clinical solutions in neurogastroenterology. My laboratory focuses on exploring the molecular mechanisms of disorders of the enteric nervous system (the autonomous nervous system that controls gastrointestinal physiology) and visceral sensory nerves. Within this broad area, we are pursuing several themes, outlined as follows. Our techniques encompass behavioral, electrophysiological (single nerve fiber recordings, patch clamp) as well as molecular approaches.
VISCERAL PAIN. Work in this laboratory represents a systematic approach to uncover the neurobiology of visceral pain in chronic pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia and has provided a framework for designing novel treatments for pancreatic, gastric and colonic pain including targeting PAR-2, TRPV1, 5-HT4 and trkA receptors, Kv ion channels and neurotransmitters such as BDNF.
GASTROINTESTINAL DYSMOTILITY. We study models of diabetic and idiopathic gastroparesis. We are focusing on two major questions- what is the biological basis of the gender bias seen in gastroparesis (80% of patients are women) and what are the mechanisms responsible for loss of nitric oxide/nNOS dysfunction including the role of advanced glycation end products (RAGE).
NEURAL STEM CELLS. Our laboratory has been exploring the use of neural stem cells into the gut for restoring function ine cure for this condition. We have shown proof of principle that neural stem cells isolated from the brain can indeed restore function when transplanted into the gut of a mouse with genetically determined dysmotility. We are now working on manipulating a specific signaling pathway (GDNF-RET) to produce an optimal long-term outcome after transplantation. In addition we are attempting to identify the nature of the neural stem cell in the post-natal gut.
CLINICAL...

Publications

• Correlations Among Electrogastrogram, Gastric Dysmotility, and Duodenal Dysmotility in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia. Sha W, Pasricha PJ, Chen JD "J Clin Gastroenterol" 2009
• AGA Institute Future Trends Committee report: the future of gastroenterology training programs in the United States. Wang TC, Cominelli F, Fleischer DE, Gordon JM, Glickman RM, Limsui D, McQuaid KR, Montrose M, Pasricha PJ, Powell DW, Rowe WA, Sandborn WJ, Todisco A "Gastroenterology" 2008 ; 5 (135) : 1764-89.e2
• Pain and chronic pancreatitis: is it the plumbing or the wiring? Anaparthy R, Pasricha PJ "Curr Gastroenterol Rep" 2008 ; 2 (10) : 101-6
• Pilot study of transesophageal endoscopic epicardial coagulation by submucosal endoscopy with the mucosal flap safety valve technique (with videos). Sumiyama K, Gostout CJ, Rajan E, Bakken TA, Knipschield MA, Chung S, Cotton PB, Hawes RH, Kalloo AN, Kantsevoy SV, Pasricha PJ "Gastrointest Endosc" 2008 ; 3 (67) : 497-501
• Inhibitors of advanced glycation end-products prevent loss of enteric neuronal nitric oxide synthase in diabetic rats. Jeyabal PV, Kumar R, Gangula PR, Micci MA, Pasricha PJ "Neurogastroenterol Motil" 2008 ; 3 (20) : 253-61