GASTROENTEROLOGY RESEARCH |
The Division is recognized nationally and internationally for
its contributions to diagnostic/therapeutic endoscopy, inflammatory
bowel disease, and outcomes research.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Several basic science investigators form an integrated team
exploring multiple aspects of intestinal inflammation utilizing
clinical resources as well as animal models of Crohn's disease
and ulcerative colitis. Some of the topics under investigation
include intestinal cytokine regulation, immune-nonimmune cell
interactions, extracellular matrix biology, tolerance to indigenous
intestinal flora, and state-of-the-art gene expression profiling
by DNA microarray technology. In collaboration with the Division
of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, these investigators
have been awarded by the National Institutes of Health a large
five-year program project grant to study pediatric inflammatory
bowel disease, the only such program in the country. Basic research
is complemented by a variety of clinical and translational studies.
These include investigation of inflammatory bowel disease in
minority populations, intestinal permeability in Crohn’s
disease families, and an active program of clinical trials with
state-of-the-art immunomodulators and biologicals.
Health Services and Outcomes Research
The research in the emerging field of Health Services and Outcomes
Research encompasses several interrelated areas including the
use of large healthcare and tumor registry databases, decision
analysis, and identification of risk factors and outcome prediction
in common gastrointestinal conditions. There is active collaboration
of Division faculty with members of the Departments of Epidemiology
and Biostatistics, Sociology, and Health Systems Management.
Dr. Gregory Cooper’s main interest are large database
research, alternative screening and surveillance strategies,
and assessment of quality of care. Margaret Kinnard, MD, is
studying genetic, environmental, and behavioral risk factors
for gastrointestinal cancer, as well as the role of screening
in cancer prevention.
Division investigators have been successful in obtaining grant
funding from the NIH, Amercian Cancer Society, American Digestive
Health Foundation, and Glaxo Institure for Digestive Health,
and have published extensively in the gastroenterology, oncology,
and health service literature.
Barrett’s Esophagus nad Esophageal Cancer
Investigators, led by Amitabh Chak, M.D., are studying some
of the factors that may cause Barrett’s esophagus and
esophageal cancer to run in families, including analyzing blood
for genetic markers for both diseases.
Bioengineering and Endoscopic Research
The research interests in Bioengineering and Endoscopic Research
span several areas of medical physics and bioengineering related
to optical remote sensing and high-resolution imaging within
the body. Current research topics include high-resolution sub-surface
endoscopic imaging using optical interferometry, spectroscopic
characterization of pre-cancerous states in gastrointestinal
tissues, and spectrally resolved confocal microscopy.
Hepatology
Aspects of clinical expertise in hepatology include the management
of acute and chronic liver disease, adult and pediatric liver
transplantation, and radiological evaluation and therapy in
chronic liver disease. The latter includes procedures such as
ultrasound, liver biopsy, transjugular intrahepatic portosytemic
shunt (TIPS), Doppler scanning of hepatic and renal blood flow,
and MRI and PET scans as applied to hepatic diagnostic problems.
Several current clinical trials for chronic viral hepatitis
treatment are in progress. In addition, clinical trials in transplant
patients, and patients with fulminant liver failure are ongoing.
