Dr. Banerjee was appointed Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology in November 2008. He obtained his medical degree from the University of London, UK, followed by postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Dr. Banerjee was in the Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University in Saint Louis for nine years, during which time he was promoted to Professor of Medicine. Dr. Banerjee's research interests encompass optical cancer detection, new endoscopic imaging techniques and gastrointestinal cancer. His clinical interests include gastro esophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, peptic ulcer disease, screening and surveillance of colon cancer, familial gastrointestinal cancers, small intestinal disorders and obesity. Dr. Banerjee is currently editing a textbook on the nutritional management of digestive diseases. He is a member of the Arizona Cancer Center and is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.
"My research covers three overlapping areas: biomedical optics, endoscopic imaging and gastrointestinal cancer. The first involves the use of novel optical techniques, which reveal structural or functional features that are not seen by the naked eye. My research on autofluorescence, which uses the ability of native tissue molecules (fluorophores) to emit a pulse of light when stimulated by light of a shorter wavelength, led to the discovery of a unique optical signal (outside the visible spectrum) that can be used to detect cancer in tissues or cells in real time without the use of dyes, stains or contrast agents. This optical signal results from the accumulation of a naturally occurring intracellular molecule in cancer cells. I work closely with biomedical engineers and optical physicists to discover and develop novel methods of detecting early cancer and other disorders. My clinical research interest is in the application of high contrast, high resolution imaging techniques for the early recognition of gastrointestinal disorders, including neoplasia. Finally I am interested in the development of gastrointestinal cancer in high risk groups, including the obese."
