Nicholas F. LaRusso

Nicholas F. LaRusso, M.D., is a distinguished academic and clinician at Mayo Clinic, holding the Charles H. Weinman Endowed Professorship in Medicine, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology. He is affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. His research focuses on cholangiocyte biology, cholangiopathies, and liver diseases, with a particular emphasis on cystogenesis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Dr. LaRusso has led groundbreaking studies on therapeutic targets for polycystic liver diseases and pioneered novel treatments for cholangiopathies.

Education: Dr. LaRusso earned his MD from New York Medical College (1969) and a BS in Biology from Boston College (1964). He completed residency and fellowship training in gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic, including a fellowship under Dr. W.H.J. Summerskill.

Research Interests: His work integrates clinical practice with laboratory research, addressing pathogenesis and treatment of cholangiopathies. Key areas include TGR5 receptor modulation, cholangiocyte senescence, and epigenetic mechanisms in PSC. His team has translated discoveries into therapies for polycystic liver diseases and other biliary disorders.

Grants & Projects: He leads NIH-funded projects, including the Mayo Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology (since 2009) and the Midwest DDRCC Alliance Conference (2023-2024). His grants total over $30M in NIH support, including a MERIT Award (1991).

Awards: Recipient of the Julius Friedenwald Medal (2014), Distinguished Mentor Award (2005), and multiple Honorary Fellowships. He has authored over 497 peer-reviewed publications and is a sought-after speaker in hepatology.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Mayo Clinic Robert M. and Billie Kelley Pirnie Translational Polycystic Kidney Disease Center and collaborates with the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging. His lab focuses on cell signaling pathways and therapeutic innovations in hepatobiliary diseases.