Researcher profile

Valentina Medici

Dr. Valentina Medici, MD, FAASLD, is a Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of California, Davis, where she also serves as Vice Chair for Research and directs the UC Davis Wilson Disease Center of Excellence, recognized for delivering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and advancing research in Wilson disease. Dr. Medici earned her medical degree and completed her gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Padova, Italy, before joining UC Davis in 2006. Over the past two decades, she has become an internationally recognized expert in Wilson disease, a rare genetic disorder of copper metabolism. Her research focuses on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, copper-induced liver injury, and metabolic pathways that influence disease severity. She has led NIH-funded studies on methionine metabolism and steatosis in Wilson disease and serves as principal investigator for clinical trials, including cutting-edge gene therapy approaches. Beyond Wilson disease, Dr. Medici’s work spans human, translational, and basic science research, exploring lipid metabolism and liver health across diverse populations. Dr. Medici is widely sought after as a speaker at major international conferences, including the AASLD Liver Meeting, where she presents on novel diagnostics and therapeutics for Wilson disease.