Rodger Alan Liddle

Rodger Alan Liddle is a Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, with additional affiliations as a Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and a Member of the Duke Cancer Institute. His research bridges gastroenterology, neuroscience, and endocrinology, focusing on gut-brain communication pathways and pancreatic disorders.

Education:

• M.D., Vanderbilt University (1978)
• B.S., University of Utah (1972)
• Internship, University of California, San Francisco, General Internal Medicine (1978-1979)
• Residency, University of California, San Francisco, General Internal Medicine (1979-1981)
• Gastroenterology Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco (1981-1984)

Liddle's laboratory investigates enteroendocrine cell biology and pancreatitis mechanisms. His groundbreaking work revealed that enteroendocrine cells (EECs) form direct connections with nerves through 'neuropods,' creating a sensory pathway from the gut to the brain. His team studies how CCK and PYY cells regulate satiety and signal the brain to stop eating. In pancreatitis research, Liddle examines neurogenic inflammation involving sensory neurons that release bioactive substances causing pancreatic tissue damage.

Analysis of Liddle's 2021-2025 publications shows a strong emphasis on the gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease, with multiple studies demonstrating how gut mucosal cells transfer alpha-synuclein to the vagus nerve. His work also extensively explores mechanosensing channels (particularly Piezo channels) in gastrointestinal disorders and the role of phosphate metabolism in pancreatitis. The research spans molecular, cellular, and clinical levels, consistently bridging basic science with clinical applications.

Liddle leads an active laboratory utilizing advanced techniques including 3D electron microscopy to visualize gut-brain connections. His research has received significant recognition, including a $18 million Duke-led grant to investigate Parkinson's disease mechanisms, building on his lab's discovery of a direct gut-brain sensory neuroepithelial circuit.