Ernesto Llano, M.D.

Ernesto M. Llano, M.D., is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases.

Originally from Cuba, Dr. Llano holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Carleton College in Minnesota. He earned his medical degree at UT Southwestern and completed internal medicine residency training at the University of Chicago. He received advanced research training through a gastroenterology fellowship at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Llano’s primary research interest is cachexia, or wasting syndrome, particularly in the context of patients with cancer. He studies the molecular mechanisms through which cancers drive cachexia as a member of the Infante Lab. Dr. Llano’s research has resulted in multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been presented at scientific conferences.

Dr. Llano uses use cellular and animal models of disease to study the molecular pathways through which cancers cause cachexia, with an aim to develop biomarkers and therapeutics for this syndrome.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Llano joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2024.

Dr. Llano is active in several professional societies, including the American Gastroenterological Association and the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Dr. Llano’s interests outside of medicine include spending time with his family, listening to long audiobooks, camping, and running.