M.S., Physiology, The Ohio State University, 1981 Ph.D., Physiology,, The Ohio State University, 1983 M.D., Medical Degree, The Ohio State University,, 1985 Residency, Internal Medicine, Duke University, 1988 Fellowship, Gastroenterology, Duke University, 1991
Research Interests:
Dr Whitcomb's interest is in the physiology and pathophysiology of the digestive system, especially the pancreas. He is specifically focusing on complex genetic traits. Dr Whitcomb's laboratory is a world leader in the discovery and understanding of susceptibility genes for acute and chronic pancreatitis. In addition, his laboratory studies genetic factors that modify the response of organs to recurrent injury including fibrosis (e.g. chronic pancreatitis), pain, oncogenesis and functional disorders. Major diseases of interest include hereditary pancreatitis, acute and chronic pancreatitis, an pancreatic cancer. He is using systems biology to integrate the effects of genetic variability, environmental factors and metabolic conditions to model complex human disorders.
