Neil Theise

Pathologist, Researcher, Complexity Theorist

Neil Theise, MD, is a diagnostic liver pathologist, adult stem cell researcher and complexity theorist in New York City, where he is a professor of pathology and medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a tenured physician.

He holds a B.A. in Oriental Studies and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania, before earning a Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University.

Dr. Theise's research reviewed knowledge on the microanatomy of the human liver leading to the identification of possible liver stem cell niches.

This work led to pioneering research on adult stem cell plasticity, with publications on this topic in Nature Cell and Science.

While continuing clinical and laboratory research, he has extended his work to the areas of theoretical biology and complexity theory and to more fundamental questions concerning the underlying structure of the universe.

These ideas suggest that alternative models of the body, other than cellular doctrine, may be needed to understand non-Western approaches to the body and health.

Current laboratory research focuses on nerve-stem cell interactions in the human liver, melatonin-related physiology of human liver stem cells and regenerative processes, and aspects of human liver stem cell activation in acute and fulminant liver failure.

Dr Theise is also a senior student of Zen Buddhism at the Village Zendo in New York, under the guidance of Roshi Enkyo O'hara.