David C. Whitcomb, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Interest: Genetics of acute and chronic pancreatitis and genetics of pancreatic cancer; Neurohormonal control of pancreatic exocrine secretion and pathophysiologic processes including the effects of alcohol and genetic predisposition; pancreatic physiology


Dr Whitcomb’s research group is organized to determine the mechanism of complex disorders including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. This has led to the publication of over two hundred peer reviewed research manuscripts, multiple reviews, book chapters and the editing of 8 books. In addition, he has mentored over three dozen trainees at all levels of education. Dr Whitcomb has been funded to study pancreatic physiology, neurohormonal control mechanisms, alcohol toxicity, molecular biology, biomarkers, gene expression and genetic studies, including the multicenter North American Pancreatitis 2 (NAPS2) study and the Study of Nutrition in Acute Pancreatitis Study (SNAP). He co-leads two prospective cohort studies at the University of Pittsburgh; Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Gene Environment Risk (PAGER) study, and the Pancreatitis-associated Risk Of Organ Failure (PROOF) study. Due to his administrative responsibilities, Dr Whitcomb has consolidated his physiology, molecular biology and genetics research laboratories to focus on high-throughput genetics and biomarker center for translational research. In concert with this effort Dr Whitcomb is developing personalized medicine integrating clinical data, genetics and biomarkers with statistical and mathematical models of complex diseases. This includes pancreatic duct cells, gallbladder physiology and acute pancreatitis. Additional, and more complex models are being developed, which will be critical in synchronizing complex data sets and predicting the effects of therapeutic interventions in simulated patient care.



  • 1: Larusch J, Barmada MM, Solomon S, Whitcomb DC. Whole exome sequencing identifies multiple, complex etiologies in an idiopathic hereditary pancreatitis kindred. JOP. 2012 May 10;13(3):258-62. PubMed PMID: 22572128.
  • 2: Petrov MS, Whitcomb DC, Windsor JA. Severity of Acute Pancreatitis: Impact of Local and Systemic Complications. Gastroenterology. 2012 Apr 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 22542833.
  • 3: Bishehsari F, Sharma A, Stello K, Toth C, O'Connell MR, Evans AC, Larusch J, Muddana V, Papachristou GI, Whitcomb DC. TNF-alpha gene (TNFA) variants increase risk for multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in acute pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2012 Mar;12(2):113-8. Epub 2012 Feb 25. PubMed PMID: 22487520.
  • 4: Mounzer R, Langmead CJ, Wu BU, Evans AC, Bishehsari F, Muddana V, Singh VK, Slivka A, Whitcomb DC, Yadav D, Banks PA, Papachristou GI. Comparison of Existing Clinical Scoring Systems to Predict Persistent Organ Failure in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis. Gastroenterology. 2012 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 22425589.
  • 5: Solomon S, Whitcomb DC, LaRusch J. PRSS1-Related Hereditary Pancreatitis. 2012 Mar 01. In: Pagon RA, Bird TD, Dolan CR, Stephens K, Adam MP, editors. GeneReviews™ [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK84399/ PubMed PMID: 22379635.
  • 6: Solomon S, Whitcomb DC. Genetics of pancreatitis: an update for clinicians and genetic counselors. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2012 Apr;14(2):112-7. PubMed PMID: 22314809.
  • 7: Clarke B, Slivka A, Tomizawa Y, Sanders M, Papachristou GI, Whitcomb DC, Yadav D. Endoscopic Therapy Is Effective for Patients With Chronic Pancreatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 22245964.
  • 8: Whitcomb DC. Going MAD: development of a "matrix academic division" to facilitate translating research to personalized medicine. Acad Med. 2011 Nov;86(11):1353-9. Review. PubMed PMID: 21952059; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3210110.
  • 9: Whitcomb DC. Pancrelipase delayed-release capsules for the treatment of pancreatic insufficiency. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2011 Apr;7(4):253-5. PubMed PMID: 21857824; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3127028.
  • 10: LaRusch J, Whitcomb DC. Genetics of pancreatitis. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011 Sep;27(5):467-74. Review. PubMed PMID: 21844754.
  • 11: Greer JB, LaRusch J, Brand RE, O'Connell MR, Yadav D, Whitcomb DC; NAPS2 Study Group. ABO blood group and chronic pancreatitis risk in the NAPS2 cohort. Pancreas. 2011 Nov;40(8):1188-94. PubMed PMID: 21792085; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3195943.
  • 12: Sherman S, Shats O, Ketcham MA, Anderson MA, Whitcomb DC, Lynch HT, Ghiorzo P, Rubinstein WS, Sasson AR, Grizzle WE, Haynatzki G, Feng J, Sherman A, Kinarsky L, Brand RE. PCCR: Pancreatic Cancer Collaborative Registry. Cancer Inform. 2011 Mar 23;10:83-91. PubMed PMID: 21552494; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3085425.
  • 13: Wu BU, Bakker OJ, Papachristou GI, Besselink MG, Repas K, van Santvoort HC, Muddana V, Singh VK, Whitcomb DC, Gooszen HG, Banks PA. Blood urea nitrogen in the early assessment of acute pancreatitis: an international validation study. Arch Intern Med. 2011 Apr 11;171(7):669-76. PubMed PMID: 21482842.
  • 14: Gubergrits N, Malecka-Panas E, Lehman GA, Vasileva G, Shen Y, Sander-Struckmeier S, Caras S, Whitcomb DC. A 6-month, open-label clinical trial of pancrelipase delayed-release capsules (Creon) in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic surgery. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 May;33(10):1152-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2011.04631.x. Epub 2011 Mar 21. PubMed PMID: 21418260.
  • 15: Brand RE, Nolen BM, Zeh HJ, Allen PJ, Eloubeidi MA, Goldberg M, Elton E, Arnoletti JP, Christein JD, Vickers SM, Langmead CJ, Landsittel DP, Whitcomb DC, Grizzle WE, Lokshin AE. Serum biomarker panels for the detection of pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Feb 15;17(4):805-16. PubMed PMID: 21325298; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3075824.
  • 16: Whitcomb DC. Genetics and alcohol: a lethal combination in pancreatic disease? Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011 May;35(5):838-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01409.x. Epub 2011 Feb 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 21303381.
  • 17: Yadav D, Slivka A, Sherman S, Hawes RH, Anderson MA, Burton FR, Brand RE, Lewis MD, Gardner TB, Gelrud A, Disario J, Amann ST, Baillie J, Lawrence C, O'Connell M, Lowenfels AB, Banks PA, Whitcomb DC. Smoking is underrecognized as a risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatology. 2010;10(6):713-9. Epub 2011 Jan 18. PubMed PMID: 21242712; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3068562.
  • 18: Mullady DK, Yadav D, Amann ST, O'Connell MR, Barmada MM, Elta GH, Scheiman JM, Wamsteker EJ, Chey WD, Korneffel ML, Weinman BM, Slivka A, Sherman S, Hawes RH, Brand RE, Burton FR, Lewis MD, Gardner TB, Gelrud A, DiSario J, Baillie J, Banks PA, Whitcomb DC, Anderson MA; NAPS2 Consortium. Type of pain, pain-associated complications, quality of life, disability and resource utilisation in chronic pancreatitis: a prospective cohort study. Gut. 2011 Jan;60(1):77-84. PubMed PMID: 21148579.
  • 19: Greer JB, Yazer MH, Raval JS, Barmada MM, Brand RE, Whitcomb DC. Significant association between ABO blood group and pancreatic cancer. World J Gastroenterol. 2010 Nov 28;16(44):5588-91. PubMed PMID: 21105191; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2992676.
  • 20: Burton F, Alkaade S, Collins D, Muddana V, Slivka A, Brand RE, Gelrud A, Banks PA, Sherman S, Anderson MA, Romagnuolo J, Lawrence C, Baillie J, Gardner TB, Lewis MD, Amann ST, Lieb JG 2nd, O'Connell M, Kennard ED, Yadav D, Whitcomb DC, Forsmark CE; North American Pancreatic Study Group. Use and perceived effectiveness of non-analgesic medical therapies for chronic pancreatitis in the United States. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011 Jan;33(1):149-59. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04491.x. Epub 2010 Oct 29. PubMed PMID: 21083584; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3142582.