Research

The Division of Gastroenterology at Washington University School of Medicine performs cutting-edge molecular and translational research.

We have a diverse research base with physician-scientists (MD and MD/PhD) and PhD scientists conducting basic investigation into the molecular regulation of development, nutrient absorption, colon carcinogenesis, immune tolerance and inflammation and repair.

In addition, we conduct a range of active translational research, including novel therapies for inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and energy metabolism, hepatic steatosis, hepatitis C and topographic manometric assessment of esophageal motility.

Learn more about our NIH-funded Digestive Diseases Research Core Center »

Principal Investigator	Research Interests
Matthew Ciorba, MD	Inflammatory bowel diseases Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase in Intestinal Inflammation The role of probiotic bacteria in modulating mechanisms of intestinal repair Visit The Ciorba Lab Site
Nicholas Davidson, MD	The molecular genetics of lipid transport and in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression Lipid storage diseases and defects in macronutrient absorption The molecular genetics of colorectal cancer
Brian Dieckgraefe, MD, PhD	The study of the cellular signaling pathways and mediators used to sense and respond to epithelial injury The identification of proximate events in the development of Crohn’s disease
Dayna S. Early, MD	Understanding barriers to colorectal cancer screening The effect of insulin resistance on the development of colorectal neoplasia The role of selenium on the development of colorectal neoplasia Diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers
Marc Levin, MD	The molecular basis of the small intestinal adaptive response following loss of small bowel surface area Nutrient modulation of the small intestinal adaptive response The role of retinoids and cellular retinol binding proteins in small intestinal adaptation
Jason Mills, MD, PhD	Developmental, molecular, and cellular biology of gastrointestinal epithelial stem cells and cancer Visit The Mills Lab Site Study prompts new ideas on cancers’ origins New insight into origin of stomach cancer Similarities found in cancer initiation in kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas
Rodney Newberry, MD	Intestinal inflammatory diseases The incidence of celiac disease among persons with osteoporosis
Deborah Rubin, MD	Identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation The role of epithelial mesenchymal interactions in inducing the normal morphogenesis and differentiation of the gut mucosa
William Stenson, MD	The role of inflammation in intestinal injury and wound repair
Sandeep Tripathy, MD, PhD	Natural Killer (NK) cell development and activation Role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases