Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

IBD – comprised of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) – is a chronic inflammatory disease with growing prevalence throughout the world. It is believed to arise from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors that trigger an inappropriate mucosal inflammatory response. A critical role for the microbiome in the pathogenesis of IBD has been supported by studies revealing alterations in the composition and function of the intestinal microbiome in IBD patients and animal studies demonstrating that gut microbes modulate severity of experimental IBD models. 

The IBD research program of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center is undertaking a wide-range of human and preclinical studies to identify gut microbes and their metabolites that drive the development and progression of IBD and characterize their interactions with the intestinal immune system. Specific areas of focus include understanding microbial changes that precede the onset of IBD, investigating dietary effects on the IBD-associated microbiome and intestinal inflammation, and defining brain-gut-microbiome pathways in IBD that mediate the link between stress and disease flares. Building on these insights, our translational research team aims to develop novel treatment strategies that incorporate dietary interventions, modulation of stress-induced pathways, and microbial therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for our IBD patients.