Craig McClain, MD

Craig McClain, MD, is a widely recognized expert in alcohol abuse, nutrition, and cytokine research, as well as hepatic drug metabolism.  He described the deleterious interactions in the liver between alcohol and acetaminophen (JAMA  244:251-253, 1980), and he was the first to describe dysregulated cytokines in alcoholic hepatitis (Hepatology 9:349-351, 1989—second most cited liver pathobiology article in Hepatology). His laboratory currently focuses on nutrition and the gut:liver axis, especially as it relates to alcoholic liver disease.  He has had continuous federal funding for his alcohol research since 1977.  Currently, he is funded by two NIH R01s, two NIH U01s and is Multiple PI on an NIH T35.  He is also funded by the Department of Defense.  He has received multiple awards, such as the American Gastroenterology Association Foundation Research Mentoring Award, the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman award for mentoring,  the Grace A Goldsmith Award in Nutrition, and teaching awards such as Outstanding Gastroenterology Education at UofL.  He also is Past President of the American College of Nutrition.  He has served on several NIH and VA Study Sections.  He was the first physician member of the NIH Peer Review Advisory Committee (PRAC) and currently serves on the NIAAA National External Advisory Council and on the NIH Council of Councils.  He has published over 340 peer-reviewed articles and 100 book chapters/reviews, and he has mentored over 100 medical students, residents, GI fellows, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, including over 25 junior faculty members with K-type career development awards.  Currently he is mentor on 5 NIH K-awards and an AASLD Career Development award.