Suraj Patel

Suraj Patel, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Center for Human Nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is affiliated with the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases and focuses on the metabolic causes and immune influences of liver disease. His research combines transcriptomic/epigenomic techniques with conventional biology to develop therapies for metabolic disorders. Dr. Patel holds degrees from Cornell University (B.S., magna cum laude), MIT/Harvard (M.S./Ph.D. in bioengineering/immunology), and Rutgers (M.D.).

Research Interests:
Dr. Patel investigates how the immune system interacts with hepatic metabolism in obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and alcohol-related liver disease. Key areas include gap junction signaling in liver injury, cytokine regulation of metabolic pathways, and translational therapies for organ dysfunction.

Professional Contributions:
He serves on review boards for Hepatology, Journal of Hepatology, and others. His lab has secured NIH funding (NIAAA R01, 2024) and explores cutting-edge topics like IRF3-mediated leptin signaling and hepatic FGF21 regulation.

Laboratory:
The Patel Lab employs genetic, epigenetic, and proteomic approaches to study liver metabolism. Recent milestones include hiring new researchers and advancing studies on alcohol-associated liver disease epidemiology and therapeutic strategies.