Program Overview
The overarching goals of the Washington University T32 Program in Academic Gastroenterology are to train, nurture and develop academic physicians and physician-scientists (MD and MD/PhD trainees) for productive and sustaining careers as bench or clinical translational investigators, scholarly and institutional leaders in the broad field of digestive and liver diseases.
Research Environment of Wash U Medicine
Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) is eminently positioned to provide digestive diseases research training opportunities that will meet this need. WUSM is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care, and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. In 2023, it ranked 5th in Best Medical Schools: Research by U.S. News & World Report. Outstanding faculty achievements include 19 Nobel laureates, 15 fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, and 30 members of the Institute of Medicine. There are 1,432 students including 593 MD, MD/PhD, and MA/MD candidates and the NIH research funding portfolio is second largest among U.S. medical schools having grown 56% in the last seven years ($586M in 2023). Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is also consistently within the top five in the country, providing extensive access to primary, tertiary, and safety-net care. Our NIDDK funded Digestive Disease Research Cores Center (DDRCC) supports and promotes the basic, translational, and clinical interests of more than 55 Full Member investigators who are supported by nearly $35M in annual direct funding.
Opportunities for Trainees
Trainees benefit from:
- Research Training: Cutting-edge projects in GI biology, microbiome, IBD, liver disease, neoplasia, and more
- Mentorship: 34 participating faculty (21 Track 1, 13 Track 2), including world-class investigators and junior faculty mentors
- Professional Development: Grant writing workshops, career seminars, national conferences, and visiting professor programs
- Resources: Stipends, travel support, access to DDRCC cores (Biobank, Big Data, Organoid and Imaging), and institutional support for advanced degrees (MSCI, MPHS, PhD)
- Integration with the NIDDK Digestive Diseases Research Core Center (DDRCC), providing access to advanced resources, biobanks, and collaborative networks
- The GI T32 partners with the Oliver Langenberg Physician-Scientist Training Program
- Initiatives: Dedicated initiatives, annual retreats, and pilot awards for trainees that support inclusive excellence
T32 Pathway by Trainee Level
| Level | Pathway & Focus |
| Predoctoral (PhD/MSTP) | Mentored research, integration with DDRCC, access to enrichment programs, career development |
| Gastroenterology Fellows and Postdoctoral Scholars | Two-year research-focused training, clinical integration, advanced coursework. Laboratory or clinical translational research, leadership development, grant writing, transition to faculty roles |
| Continued Career Development | Support for K awards, faculty appointments, continued mentorship |
Accomplishments of Past Trainees
- 41 graduates (2002–2024); 90% in full-time academic positions
- Over $25M in extramural funding (K, R, F, and foundation awards)
- Multiple trainee alumni now lead NIH R01 funded laboratories
- Recent faculty appointments: Three MD/PhD alumni (Sáenz, Brown, Cao) are tenure-track Assistant Professors with NIDDK K08 funding
- Diversity: 23% of trainees are underrepresented minorities
- Success stories: Alumni have published in high-impact journals, received national awards, and advanced to leadership roles in academia and industry
Advantages of DDRCC Membership
T32 trainees through their mentor, have full access to the NIDDK Digestive Diseases Research Core Center (DDRCC), gaining:
- Access to biobanks and big data resources for translational and clinical research
- Participation in enrichment programs, seminars, and annual retreats
- Eligibility for pilot and feasibility awards
- Collaborative opportunities with >55 investigators and $35M in annual direct funding
- Support through dedicated DDRCC initiatives aimed at fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment
How to Apply
- Eligibility: MD, MD/PhD, PhD, MSTP students with interest in digestive and liver disease research
- Application: Rolling process for predoctoral slots; competitive selection for postdoctoral slots via GI fellowship match
- Contact: Tiffany Huling (thuling@wustl.edu)
Alumni Profiles
Cassandra Fritz, MD, MPHS — Assistant Professor
- Track: Clinical Translational (Track 2)
- Mentors: Nicholas O. Davidson, Yin Cao
- Focus: Early-onset colorectal cancer; disparities; big data analytics
- Highlights: First-author JNCI study on EOCRC red-flag signs & symptoms; completedMPHS; DDRCC pilot award; AGA Forward program
- Now: Fellowship Director, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Training Program
Stewart (Siyan) Cao, MD, PhD — Assistant Professor
- Track: Laboratory (Track 1)
- Mentors: Marco Colonna (w/ co-mentorship by Matthew Ciorba, Parakkal Deepak)
- Focus: ER stress pathways in ILC3s; mucosal immunity in IBD
- Highlights: Co-first author PNAS; first-author JCI on IRE1α/XBP1 in ILC3s; K08 (impact score 22); multiple foundation/DDRCC awards
Vladimir Lamm, MD — Assistant Professor; Clinical-Translational IBD & biotech co-founder
- Track: Translational (Track 1 & 2)
- Mentors: Matthew Ciorba (co-mentored)
- Focus: ER stress modulation (TUDCA) in UC; organoids; RNA-seq; bench-to-bedside trials
- Highlights: 65% clinical response in refractory UC trial; Co-Founder of Edulis Therapeutics; DARPA and CCF Litwin Pioneers Awards; multiple innovation grants
Martin Gregory, MD, MSCI — Assistant Professor
- Track: Transitioned from Lab (Track 1) to Clinical (Track 2) during COVID disruption
- Mentors: Matthew Ciorba, Parakkal Deepak, Rodney Newberry
- Focus: Real-world evidence in IBD (MarketScan®, health system databases)
- Highlights: 11 publications during T32; Science translational paper on Debaryomyces in Crohn’s; completed MSCI
ZeNan Chang, MD, PhD — Instructor
- Track: Laboratory (Track 1)
- Mentors: Jeffrey I. Gordon, Deborah R. Rubin
- Focus: Physiologic impact of microbiota on the intestines and cross-talks impacting fetoplacental development
- Highlights: Co-first author PNAS; AGA Fellow-to-Faculty Award
Avan Antia (MD/PhD candidate, F30) — MSTP Predoctoral Trainee
- Track: Laboratory (Track 1)
- Mentors: Siyuan Ding (collab with Matthew Ciorba)
- Focus: GI viral pathogenesis (SARS-CoV-2 entry; rotavirus; M-cells; colon organoids)
- Highlights: F30 award; multi-PI R01 collaboration (GI COVID-19); several first-author works
Testimonials
“The T32 program’s mentorship, DDRCC resources, and commitment to equity enabled me to tackle impactful questions in colorectal cancer and disparities.”
Cassandra Fritz, MD, MPHS
“Access to world-class mentors and DDRCC cores helped me bridge mechanistic mucosal immunology to translational IBD insights and secure NIH career development.”
Stewart (Siyan) Cao, MD, PhD
“I had the chance to work with world class leaders in IBD, drug discovery, and engineering. I apply the program’s dedicated research training, from trial design to organoid science, to my current work developing novel drug delivery systems, endoscopic technology, and translational animal models.”
Vladimir Lamm, MD
“Pivoting to data-driven clinical research was seamless thanks to the T32 mentorship structure and DDRCC Big Data resources.”
Martin Gregory, MD, MSCI
“Support by the DDRCC and T32 program was pivotal toward pursuing cutting edge laboratory science amidst a rigorous clinical training.”
ZeNan Chang, MD, PhD
“The T32 community and DDRCC cores accelerated my F30 work and collaborations in GI viral pathogenesis.”
Avan Antia, MSTP Student