Joseph A. Odin

Biography

Dr. Odin is an assistant professor in the Division of Liver Diseases with an interest in patients with autoimmune liver diseases, including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis, and those with hepatitis C infection (HCV). This interest is both clinical and translational research oriented.
His research program focuses on the importance of clearance of apoptotic or dying cells from the liver in the regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in each of the above diseases. The roles of bile duct epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells in this process are of particular interest. Systems have been developed to analyze these cell types in vitro and in vivo.  The overall research aim is to identify environmental, including toxins and vitamin D, and genetic factors, that influence this process in order to identify novel means of decreasing chronic liver inflammation. This research program is a continuation of studies regarding the pathogenesis of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) that he began as a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Much of this work is part of the PBC Research Center at Mount Sinai and has been funded at various times by a K08 award from the NIH /NIDDK, the Artzt Family Foundation Trust, the New York City Speaker's Fund, The American Liver Foundation and the Hirschl/Weill-Caulier Trust. Dr. Odin was also the recipient of a Research Excellence in GI and Liver Disease (REGAL) Award presented by the American Gastroenterologic Association. The studies of autoimmune liver disease are performed in collaboration with Nancy Bach, M.D.  and the studies of HCV infection are partly in collaboration with Andrea Branch, Ph.D. Current members of the laboratory include Jorge Allina, M.D., Carmen Stanca, M.D., and John Garber, M.D.
In his clinical practice, Dr. Odin accepts patients with all types of liver disease. Those with HCV infection are treated with pegylated-interferon/ ribavirin combination therapy under the watchful eye of myself and a physician assistant. Patient support groups are available for those with HCV infection and PBC. Those with end-stage liver disease are referred to RMTI physicians at Mount Sinai for evaluation for liver transplantation. Eligible patients are referred to a number of available clinical trials if interested. Dr. Odin is the principal investigator or co-investigator for several of these clinical trials. Currently, enrollment is available in clinical trials for those with primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C infection, and chronic hepatitis B infection.
Dr. Odin completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2000. Prior to this, he was an Internal Medicine resident at Mount Sinai. Following acceptance into the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1986, he was awarded his Ph.D. degree in 1991 upon completion of his doctoral dissertation under the supervision of Dr. Jay Unkeless. He received his M.D. degree in 1993, at which time he was selected for an NIDDK Medical Student of the Year Award and an American Federation for Clinical Research Student Award. Currently, he is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American Gastroenterology Association.