Scott L. Friedman
- DEAN FOR THERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY
- PROFESSOR Medicine, Liver Diseases
- PROFESSOR Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics
Print Profile
Research Topics
- Aerodigestive Tract
- Apoptosis/Cell Death
- Cancer Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Cell Transformation
- Developmental Biology
- Epithelial Cells
- Extracellular Matrix
- Fibrosis
- Growth Factors and Receptors
- Hepatitis C Virus
- Integrins
- Knockout Mice
- Liver
- Macrophage
- Metastasis
- Molecular Biology
- Organogenesis
- Oxidative Stress
- Phosphorylation
- Proteases
- Receptors
- Signal Transduction
- Stem Cells
- Transcription Factors
- Transcriptional Activation and Repression
- Transgenic Mice
- Tumor Suppressor Genes
- Tumorigenesis
- Vascular Development
- Wound Healing
Training Areas
Biography
Dr. Friedman has performed pioneering research into the underlying causes of scarring, or fibrosis associated with chronic liver disease, which affects millions worldwide. Dr. Friedman was the first to isolate and characterize the hepatic stellate cell, which is the key cell type responsible for scar production in liver. This work followed from earlier studies by Drs. Hans Popper and Fenton Schaffner of Mount Sinai who emphasized the stellate cell's potential importance in liver disease. Liver fibrosis has assumed major importance as a potential treatment target for the millions of patients infected with Hepatitis C, and much of this excitement can be traced to Dr. Friedman's contributions. His work has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1985, in addition to grants from American Heart Association and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Dr. Friedman is a 1979 graduate of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he served as the President of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and was an awardee of the Arthur Aufses, Sr. Prize in Surgery. After graduation Dr. Friedman was a Medical Resident at the Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, then a Gastroenterology Fellow at UCSF before assuming a faculty position there which he held for ten years. During a 1995-96 sabbatical from UCSF he was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, in the laboratory of Dr. Moshe Oren. In 2003 Dr. Friedman was awarded the Hans Popper International Liver Research Prize, recognizing his pioneering work into mechanisms and treatments of hepatic fibrosis.
Dr. Friedman has given invited lectures throughout the world and is also a respected author. His 1993 'Seminars in Medicine' article on liver fibrosis in the New England Journal of Medicine is the most widely cited review on the topic. He has mentored 10 postdoctoral fellows and students all of whom remain in academic training programs or faculty.
In addition to his laboratory research, Dr. Friedman is a respected clinician and teacher, having been listed among the 'Bay Area's Best Doctors' by San Francisco Focus Magazine. He maintains a clinical practice in Liver Diseases at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Friedman is currently an Associate Editor of Hepatology, and on the Editorial Board of Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He is co-Editor of the textbook 'Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Gastroenterology'. He is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. Dr. Friedman was a recipient in 1993 of the Saul Horowitz, Jr. Outstanding Alumnus Award from Mount Sinai and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation since 1995. He serves on numerous committees for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the American Gastroenterological Association.
Fibrosis Research Center
Mount Sinai Alcoholic Liver Disease Research Center
In the News
Dr. Friedman discusses cirrhosis in The Daily News feature The Daily Check Up.
View the PDF
Awards
-
New award
2009 -
President
American Assn for the Study of Liver Diseases2008 -
Dean's Distinguished Lecturer
Georgetown U. School of Medicine2008 -
Sackler Distinguished Lectureship
Tel Aviv University, Israel2008 -
Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Assn
2008 -
Advisory Council
Natl Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism2007 -
America's Top Doctors
2006 -
Solomon Berson Dept of Medicine Housestaff Teaching Award
2005 -
John Carbone Visiting Professor
Medicine, NY, NY2004 -
International Hans Popper Award to Outstanding Researcher in Hepatology
2004 -
Lieberman Memorial Lecture
Lenox Hill Hospital Dept of Medicine, NY, NY2003 -
International Hans Popper Award to Outstanding Researcher in Hepatology
2003 -
CecilWatson Lecturer
U. Minnesota2001 -
Jacobson Visiting Professor and Lecturer
U. of Newcastle School of Medicine1999 -
Ernest Hafter Memorial Lecture
Swiss Gastroenterological Association1999 -
Charles Flood Memorial Lecture
NY Cornell Presbyterian Hosp. GI Division1998 -
Irene and Dr. Arthur Fishberg Professor of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine1995 -
Fulbright Senior Scholar Award
1993 -
Saul Horowitz Outstanding Alumnus Award
Mount Sinai School of Medicine1992 -
'Bay Area's Best Doctors'
San Francisco Focus Magazine1979 -
Chapter President
Alpha Omega Alpha, Lambda Chapter1979 -
Arthur H. Aufses Sr., Prize in Surgery
Mount Sinai School of Medicine1976 -
Cum Laude
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Research
Dr. Friedman is the Director of both the Fibrosis Research Center and the Mount Sinai Alcoholic Liver Disease Research Center.Specific Clinical/Research Interest:
1) Role of KLF6 tumor suppressor gene in cancer pathogenesis;
2) Molecular regulation of hepatic fibrosis;
3) Testing of novel antifibrotic therapies in preclinical models and human trials
Current Students: MD/PhD: Ursula Lang, Zhara Ghiassi-Nejad, Yedidya Saiman (co-mentor); Ph.D. - Jingjing Jiao (co-mentor_; Doris Duke Medical Student Research Fellow: Andrew Paris
Postdoctoral Fellows: Lars Bechmann, M.D.; Beatriz Minguez, M.D.; Sara Tofannin, Ph.D.; Rebekka Hannivoort, M.D.; Ursula Munoz, PhD; Diana Vetter M.D.
Research Personnel: Johnny Loke, M.S. (Lab Manager); Feng Hong M.D.
Summary of Research Studies:
-Role of KLF6 in Cell Growth and Human Cancer.
We have cloned a novel Kruppel like factor, KLF6, from liver that is ubiquitously expressed, and mutated in a number of human cancers. Major KLF6-related research projects are:
-Identification of KLF6 transcriptional targets by array
-Role of KLF6 in liver development
-Inactivation of KLF6 in human cancers, esp. hepatocellular carcinoma
-Animal models of cancer with KLF6 dysregulation
-KLF6 Interacting proteins
-Animal models of KLF6 dysregulation (tissue specific KO; KLF6 +/- mice responses to injury and carcinogens) Molecular Regulation of Hepatic Fibrosis.
Our work explores the molecular mechanisms of wound healing and fibrosis in liver. We use a variety of animal and cell culture models to identify key inflammatory mediatiors and signaling molecules regulating the activation of hepatic stellate cells, the principle fibrogenic cells in liver. Additionally, we test candidate antifibrotic lead compounds to develop potential new therapies for patients with chronic fibrosing liver diseases. Specific projects include:
-Testing of antifibrotic lead compounds in animal models
-Clinical trials of antifibrotic therapies in patients with chronic liver disease
-Exploration of mechanisms underlying risk-associated genes in hepatic fibrosis
-Role of KLF6 splicing in hepatic stellate cell activation
Publications
Guo J, Loke J, Zheng F, Hong F, Yea S, Fugita M, Tarocchi M, Abar OT, Huang H, Sninsky JJ, Friedman SL. Functional linkage of cirrhosis-predictive single nucleotide polymorphisms of toll-like receptor 4 to hepatic stellate cell responses. Hepatology 2009;.
Friedman SL. Hepatic stellate cells: protean, multifunctional and enigmatic cells of the liver. Physiological reviews 2008; 88: 125-172.
Hoshida Y, Augusto A, Kobayashi M, Peix J, Chiang D, Camargo A, Gupta S, Moore J, Wrobel MJ, Lerner J, Reich M, Chan JA, Glickman JN, Ikeda K, Hashimoto M, Watanabe G, Roayaie S, Schwartz M, Thung S, Salvesen HB, Mazzaferro GS V, Bruix J, Friedman SL, Kumada H, Llovet JM, Golub TR. Gene expression profiles of adjacent liver predict outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma. New England J Med 1995-2004, 2008; 359(19).
Friedman SL. Mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis. Gastroenterology 2008 May; 134(6): 1655-1669.
Yea S, Narla G, Zhao X, Garg R, Tal-Kremer S, Hod H, Villanueva A, Loke J, Tarocchi M, Akita K, Shirasawa S, Sasazuki T, Martignetti JA, Llovet JM, Friedman SL. Ras promotes growth by alternative splicing-mediated inactivation of the KLF6 tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology 2008; 134(5): 1521-1531.
Friedman SL. News & Views: Targeting siRNA to arrest fibrosis. Nature Biotechnology 2008; 26(4): 399-400.
Friedman SL, Nieto N. Preview. Cannabinoids provoke alcoholic steatosis through a conspiracy of neighbors. Cell Metabolism 2008; 7(3): 187-188.
Hartel M, Narla G, Wente MN, Nathalia A, Giese NA, Martignoni ME, Martignetti JA, Friess H, Friedman SL. Increased alternative splicing of the KLF6 tumor suppressor gene correlates with prognosis and tumor grade in patients with pancreatic cancer. European J Cancer 2008; 44(13): 1895-1903.
Kremer-Tal , Narla G, Chen Y, Hod E, DiFeo A, Yea S, Lee JS, Schwartz M, Thung SN, Fiel IM, Banck M, Zimran , Thorgeirsson SS, Mazzaferro V, Bruix J, Martignetti JA, Llovet JM, Friedman SL. Downregulation of KLF6 is an early event in hepatocarcinogenesis, and stimulates proliferation while reducing differentiation in vivo. Journal of Hepatology 2007; 46: 645-654.
Narla G, Kremer-Tal S, Matsumoto N, Zhao X, Yao S, Kelley K, Tarocchi M, Friedman SL. In vivo regulation of p21 by the KLF6 tumor suppressor gene in mouse liver and human hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2007; 26(30): 4428-4434.
Tarocchi M, Hannivoort R, Hoshida Y, Lee UE, Vetter D, Narla G, Villanueva A, Oren M, Llovet JM, Friedman SL. Carcinogen-induced hepatic tumors in KLF6+/- mice recapitulate aggressive human hepatocellular carcinoma associated with p53 pathway deregulation. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) 2011 Aug; 54(2).
Friedman SL, Sheppard D, Duffield JS, Violette S. Therapy for Fibrotic Diseases: Nearing the Starting Line. Science Translational Medicine 2013 January; 5(167): 1-17.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Friedman during 2012 and/or 2013. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting:
- Abbott Laboratories; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; BiOrion Technologies BV; BioLineRx, Ltd.; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Conatus Pharmaceuticals; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; Genentech, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Healthpoint Biotherapeutics; Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.; Nimbus Discovery LLC; Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; PharmaIN; Quark Biotech, Inc.; Siemens; Synageva BioPharma; Tobira Therapeutics, Inc.; Tokai Pharmaceuticals; sanofi-aventis
Scientific Advisory Board:
- Galectin Therapeutics; Nitto Denko Corporation; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Other Activities: Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership.
- Galectin Therapeutics; Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Tobira Therapeutics, Inc.; Vaccinex Inc.
Royalty Payments:
- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; Life Technologies Corporation; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation; Nitto Denko Corporation; Novartis
Equity (Stock or stock options valued at greater than 5% ownership of a publicly traded company or equity of any value in a privately held company)
- Angion Biomedica Corp; Galectin Therapeutics; Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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