Neil Theise

Neil D. Theise (born 1959 in Connecticut) is a professor of pathology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine and a researcher on the topics of adult stem cell plasticity and the anatomy of the human interstitium. He is the author of the PEN America Award long-listed book Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being. He was the Lead Scientist at Pop Test LLC & Palisades Therapeutics LLC for 15 years.

Biography

Neil Theise received a B.A and a B.A.S from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981 and an M.D. from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1986.

He, along with his co-authors, published a study in 2018 in Scientific Reports that detailed the interstitium as a potential new organ in the human body.

His 2023 book, Notes on Complexity, introduces complexity theory - the science of how complex systems behave - and delves into a holistic exploration of human existence and the universe-wide network of connectivity.

Publications

Books

  • Theise, Neil. Notes on Complexity: A scientific theory of connection, consciousness, and being. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2023.

Selected Publications

  • Ordner, Jeffrey; Narula, Navneet; Chiriboga, Luis; Zeck, Briana; Majd, Mariam; Gupta, Kapish; Gaglia, Rebecca; Zhou, Fang; Moreira, Andre; Iman, Rami; Ko, Jane P; Le, Linda; Wells, Rebecca G; Theise, Neil D. Continuity of interstitial spaces within and outside the human lung. Journal of anatomy. 2025:247(5):1059-1068.
  • Stecco, Carla; Pratt, Rebecca; Nemetz, Laurice D; Schleip, Robert; Stecco, Antonio; Theise, Neil D. The importance of categories. A response to brief communication of Dr. Graham Scarr, "Commentary on the recent article: Stecco et al. (2025) Towards a comprehensive definition of the human fascial system. Journal of Anatomy. DOI: 10.1111/joa.14212". Journal of anatomy. 2025:247(2):410-411.
  • Gill, Ryan M; Theise, Neil. Vascular Liver Disease: Emerging Concepts in the Sinusoidal Space. Clinics in liver disease. 2025:29(3):545-561.
  • Theise, Neil D; Kohnehshahri, Mehran N; Chiriboga, Luis A; Fyfe, Billie; Cao, Wenqing; Zee, Sui; Imam, Rami; Pichler-Sekulic, Simona; Wells, Rebecca G. EVIDENCE OF INTERSTITIAL CONTINUITY WITHIN AND BEYOND THE HUMAN PANCREAS. Human pathology. 2025.
  • Stecco, Carla; Pratt, Rebecca; Nemetz, Laurice D; Schleip, Robert; Stecco, Antonio; Theise, Neil D. Towards a comprehensive definition of the human fascial system. Journal of anatomy. 2025:246(6):1084-1098.
  • Theise, Neil D; Tuszynski, Jack A. Non-linearity, complexity, and quantization concepts in biology. Frontiers in human neuroscience. 2025:19.
  • Le, Linda; Narula, Navneet; Zhou, Fang; Smereka, Paul; Ordner, Jeffrey; Theise, Neil; Moore, William H; Girvin, Francis; Azour, Lea; Moreira, Andre L; Naidich, David P; Ko, Jane P. Diseases Involving the Lung Peribronchovascular Region: A CT Imaging Pathologic Classification. Chest. 2024:166(4):802.
  • de Jong, Iris E M; Theise, Neil D; Wells, Rebecca G. The space of Mall confirmed in humans: A response to "Portal venous branches as an anatomic railroad for a gut-bile duct axis". Journal of hepatology. 2024:80(3):e126-e127.

References

  1. ↑ "Neil D. Theise, MD". nyulangone.org. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  2. ↑ kanopi_admin (2024-04-08). "Announcing the 2024 PEN America Literary Awards Longlists". PEN America. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  3. ↑ "Notes on Complexity by Neil Theise". Spiegel & Grau. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  4. ↑ "The Pop Test & Palisades Therapeutics Companies – We aim to create, develop and protect new products and technologies that have the potential to significantly improve patients' lives". Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Commencement Program, 1981". University Archives and Records Center. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  6. ↑ Columbia University. College of Physicians and Surgeons (1986). P & S ... : the yearbook of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in the city of New York. Columbia University Libraries. [New York, NY : The College].
  7. ↑ LiveScience, Rachael Rettner. "Meet Your Interstitium, a Newfound "Organ"". Scientific American. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  8. ↑ "Complexity Theory | TRACT | Columbia University". www.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  9. ↑ "Review | This biologist wants us to find comfort in our world's complexity". The Washington Post. 2023-06-11. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-11.