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.

Principal InvestigatorResearch Interests
Matthew Ciorba, MDInflammatory Bowel Disease (laboratory, clinical, and translational clinical trials)
Colorectal Cancer (laboratory and translational clinical trials)
Intestinal SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 (laboratory and clinical)
Additional Keywords: Organoids, probiotics, radiation, murine models, tryptophan metabolism, Crohn’s, colitis
Visit The Ciorba Lab site
Nicholas Davidson, MDThe 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
Dayna S. Early, MDUnderstanding 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, MDThe 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
Rodney Newberry, MDIntestinal inflammatory diseases; The incidence of celiac disease among persons with osteoporosis
Deborah Rubin, MDIdentifying 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
Jose Saenz, MD, PhDResearch interests: chronic gastritis, autoimmune gastritis, Helicobacter pylori, double-stranded RNA signaling, gastric cancer.
Siyan “Stewart” Cao, MD, PhDCellular stress response in innate lymphoid cells in inflammatory bowel disease; single-cell analyses of IBD subtypes and complications including Crohn’s disease of the pouch and perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease; identification of therapeutic markers for IBD biologics (e.g., anti-IL-23 therapies). 
Devesha Kulkarni, PhDMucosal immunology, IBD-research, Microbial dysbiosis, and Metabolic diseases
Jeffrey W Brown, MD, PhDStudying the cellular processes involved in normal tissue transitioning to metaplasia and cancer with specific interest on the role glycosylation epitopes and lectins play in these processes. My lab primarily focuses on foregut metaplasia: Barrett’s esophagus, intestinal metaplasia of the stomach;  pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia.