Biography

Ernesto M. Llano, M.D., is an Instructor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of it's 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.

UT Southwestern's rich history of impactful science has touched millions of patients around the world. It has an excellent track record of training physician scientists.

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 (https://labs.utsouthwestern.edu/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 in 2019, 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.

Personal Note

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

Education
Medical School
UT Southwestern Medical School (2016)
Residency
University of Chicago (2019), Internal Medicine
Fellowship
UT Southwestern Medical Center (2024), Gastroenterology

Honors & Awards
  • CPRIT Trainee Award
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society Award
  • UTSW Medical School
    Alumni Scholarship

Professional Associations/Affiliations
  • American Gastroenterological Association