Saul Karpen, MD, PhD, FAASLD
Biography
Saul J. Karpen, M.D., Ph.D., FAASLD, is the inaugural chief scientific officer for the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va., where he is a professor of internal medicine and adjunct professor in pediatric medicine at the VCU School of Medicine. He holds the Phillip B. Hylemon Endowed Chair of Medicine and Microbiology and is a pediatric hepatologist at the VCU Children's Hospital of Richmond. The overarching aim of his research is to understand the root causes and adaptive mechanisms for cholestasis, including recent work focused on discovering novel genetic causes of biliary atresia. His overall goals are to develop integrative programs to improve clinical care, enhance basic and applied clinical research, including the discovery of new therapeutic agents—focused upon the unique and pressing needs of infants and children with liver disease and improving the continuum of care through adulthood.
On a national and international basis, he is an active participant in two NIDDK-supported consortia for liver disease: ChiLDReN and NASH CRN. Dr. Karpen is currently the President-elect of the AASLD (President in 2026).