Dr. Raj Vuppalanchi is a distinguished physician-scientist and nationally recognized leader in hepatology and digestive disorders. He currently serves as a tenured Professor of Medicine and Director of Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine, positions he has held with distinction since joining the institution in 2007. After earning his MBBS from Gandhi Medical College in 1998, Dr. Vuppalanchi completed his internal medicine residency at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, followed by dual fellowships in Clinical Pharmacology and Gastroenterology/Hepatology at Indiana University School of Medicine. His rigorous clinical training established the foundation for his integrated approach to liver disease research and patient care, combining pharmacological expertise with advanced hepatology specialization.
Dr. Vuppalanchi's research program focuses on advancing patient-centered approaches to liver disease management, with particular expertise in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, cholestatic and autoimmune liver disorders including PSC, PBC and AIH, and cirrhosis. His pioneering work in non-invasive assessment of liver disease severity through techniques like transient elastography for liver and spleen stiffness measurements has transformed clinical practice by reducing the need for invasive biopsies. As the principal investigator for the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute's Phase I clinical trials, he has led numerous groundbreaking studies on hepatic impairment, significantly contributing to the development of safer therapeutic approaches for patients with compromised liver function. His investigations into the pathogenesis and treatment of muscle cramps in cirrhosis patients have addressed a previously underexplored but clinically significant aspect of liver disease management.
Beyond his clinical and research contributions, Dr. Vuppalanchi has earned recognition for his exceptional teaching, receiving the prestigious Trustees' Teaching Award from Indiana University in 2017. His expertise is widely acknowledged through his designation as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, reflecting his standing among the nation's leading hepatologists. Dr. Vuppalanchi maintains an active clinical practice at the Digestive and Liver Disorder Clinic at Indiana University Hospital, where he provides comprehensive care for patients with complex liver conditions while continuing to advance innovative therapeutic approaches. His ongoing research continues to focus on novel treatments for liver diseases while maintaining his commitment to clinical excellence and patient-centered care, ensuring his work remains at the forefront of advancing hepatology practice and improving patient outcomes worldwide.
