Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S., wins Mid-Career Award
Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S.
Asking the right questions about liver disease
During her childhood in the foothills of the Himalayas, Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S. (I ’04, CI ’06, GI ’07, HEPT ’08), was relentless: she wanted answers and she wanted to discover new things — as quickly as possible. She asked her family members question after question until she was satisfied. She would run up mountain paths ahead of everyone in the family.
“The first day of kindergarten, I reassured everyone that I was fully capable of finding my way to and from school, which was over a mile away,” she says.
Today, she’s translated her energy and curiosity into a career as an internationally recognized expert in liver disease, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
Dr. Malhi is a professor of medicine and professor of physiology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and a consultant in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. She is an associate director of Mayo Clinic’s Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology and vice chair of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Dr. Malhi pioneered the concept of using extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for liver injury. Her research has also illuminated key mechanisms of lipotoxicity, endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation, paving the way for novel therapeutic approaches and research lines in the field.
More recently, she has helped develop novel epigenetic inhibitors for the therapy of alcohol-associated hepatitis. She has also deepened understanding of liver injury due to hepatic steatosis, the most common form of chronic liver disease in western societies. Her research has received continuous NIH funding since 2012.
Dr. Malhi is also a clinically-trained transplant hepatologist, one of only about 1,000 physicians trained in transplant hepatology in the country. She participates in the care of pre- and post-transplant patients in outpatient practice and performs endoscopic procedures. She has also helped organize and strongly supports a specialized clinic in hepatology taking care of patients who have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseases.
“I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand Dr. Malhi’s robust contributions to the field of hepatology, her leadership in translational research, and her commitment to fostering innovation and education,” says Nataliya Razumilava, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at University of Michigan Medical School. “She has an unparalleled ability to translate complex basic science findings into clinically relevant applications.”
Dr. Malhi chaired the basic research committee for the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), the premier North American society dedicated to the prevention and cure of liver disease, and currently serves on the Governing Board of the AASLD as a councilor-at-large. She is also deputy editor of Hepatology, the AASLD’s flagship journal, where she has played a pivotal role in elevating the journal’s impact and ensuring the dissemination of cutting-edge research. She has given approximately 75 extramural presentations and is known for the breadth and depth of her knowledge, her ability to clarify difficult concepts and the informative nature of her seminars.
Dr. Malhi says the most rewarding aspect of her work is mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists. In this role, she passes along her accumulated wisdom — some of which reflects the bold, inquisitive child she once was.
“Ask an important question and answer it well,” she says. “Many smart people may have the same ideas as you. Move fast.”
The Early and Mid-Career Alumni Awards recognize Mayo Clinic alumni who have made robust contributions to their areas of expertise in the realms of education, clinical practice, clinical and scientific research, and administration. Beyond their professional output, they demonstrate selfless community service and have consistently acted in a manner that is aligned with Mayo Clinic values. Read about the other 2024 recipients here.
Illustrations by Nigel Buchanan.