Picture: wikipedia
Studying human: microbial interactions in the gut
We witness a worldwide increase in different metabolic and immune-mediated diseases with westernization and globalization, implying that modern-era dietary and environmental triggers and alterations in gut bacteria are the likely culprit, rather than genetic drift.
In the lab we study the gut microbial development and its associations with diseases with a specific focus on inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic/relapsing disorders that affect over six million individuals worldwide. In the lab we capture the interactions between the gut bacteria, epithelial cells, and the immune system in the affected gut, to better define disease pathogenesis, disease outcome, and response to therapy.
Research
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Most patients are diagnosed young during childhood or early adulthood. Patients usually present with diarrhrea, abdominal pain, fatigues, anemia, and weight loss.
We want to understand why different patients have different disease phenotypes and what are the triggers that fuels the inflammation.
Funding
