About the contributor

• Nicholas E. Diamant

Nicholas E. Diamant

Dr Diamant graduated in Medicine (Queen's University, Kinston, Ontario, Canada) in 1960, and his research career spans over 30 years, beginning with his early training in the Gastroenterology Program of Dr Franz Ingelfinger (Boston University) and in the Physiology laboratory of Dr Alex Bortoff (Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York). Since his return to the University of Toronto in 1968, his research, although anchored by a particular interest in the esophagus and swallowing, has been characterized by its direction to fundamental concepts and principles that govern integrative neuromuscular control throughout the gut. Present research activities are directed to four areas: (1) neuromuscular control mechanisms that regulate motor activity in the smooth muscle portion of the esophagus; (2) psychophysical aspects of visceral pain in normal subjects and patients with irritable bowel syndrome; (3) treatment modalities for irritable bowel syndrome and other functional abdominal pain disorders; and (4) the assessment of, and outcome of, oropharyngeal swallowing disorders.