Research Focus

Dr. Owyang’s research interests focus on neurohormonal control of digestive functions including pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion, gastrointestinal motility, and eating behavior. Ongoing in vivo human studies include investigation of the mechanism responsible for feedback regulation of CCK release and the effect of pancreatic insufficiency on intrapancreatic pressure and pain. These types of studies hopefully will yield useful information toward identifying the subgroup of patients with chronic pancreatitis who may respond to enzyme replacement. His laboratory is performing studies to investigate the circuitry of the enteric nervous system in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract and determine the mechanisms of information processing. Other animal studies include functional brain stem mapping to characterize the neural circuit in the nucleus tractus solitarius and vagal motor nucleus responsible for mediating gastric motility. In pathophysiological studies, he has developed a number of disease models mimicking diabetic gastroparesis to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for selective nitrergic neuropathy and destruction of the interstitial cell of Cajal in diabetic conditions. Recently, Dr. Owyang and his colleagues have begun to investigate the mechanism governing nutrient sensing and peptide secretion by enteroendocrine cells including novel taste-like pathways. These studies may provide promising targets for new strategies to combat obesity and diabetes.

Study Projects

Selected Publications

Honors/Awards

Patient Information

Clinic address:
Taubman Center
3rd floor, Reception Area D
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Appointments:
1-888-229-7408
734-647-5944
Fax: 734-763-4574

Academic Information

Office address:
UMHS, Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology
3912 Taubman Center, SPC 5362
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-936-4785
Fax: 734-936-7392