Digestive Diseases Research
Conducting groundbreaking studies
Research has been a mainstay of our division since it was established in 1953, and over the course of our 71-year history we have grown to become a world leader in contributing new digestive diseases-related knowledge through scientific studies. We have recently launched the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center and the Comprehensive Liver Research Center.
Our research strengths
Our faculty publish extensively and play prominent roles in national meetings, advancing the state of the science and ushering in cutting-edge treatments that improve and save lives.
Research centers and labs
Our division’s investigators study novel therapeutics and perform cutting-edge research. We also continue to collaborate across our UCLA Health system, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and multiple campus units.
Research news
$9.5M grant to study relationship between polyphenol intake, Alzheimer’s prevention, and the brain-gut-microbiome system
Polyphenols — a key component of Mediterranean diets and found in berries, grapes, green tea, and cocoa — may delay cognitive decline.
$1.5M seed funds to launch 'Total MASLD' research
The mission of the Comprehensive Liver Research Center is to understand every aspect of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as it relates to the diverse population of Los Angeles County.
UCLA Health is the only institution awarded two NIH SCORE grants
Science is still ignoring women's health, but UCLA Health researchers are fixing that. “Men and women could have different disease pathogenesis, different risk levels and different responses to treatments,” said Lin Chang, MD, co-principal investigator. “You really have to consider sex as a biological variable.”
UCLA receives $20M to establish Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center
Among the most promising areas of scientific inquiry is the study of the human microbiome and its effect on health. To fuel more rapid progress in this field, Andrea and Donald Goodman and Renee and Meyer Luskin have made a $20M gift to establish the UCLA Goodman–Luskin Microbiome Center.
Feeding the lonely brain
A new UCLA Health study has found that women who perceive themselves to be lonely exhibited activity in regions of the brain associated with cravings and motivation towards eating especially when shown pictures of high calorie foods such as sugary foods. The same group of women also had unhealthy eating behaviors and poor mental health.
Your gut microbes may influence how you handle stress
A new UCLA Health study has found that resilient people exhibit neural activity in the brain regions associated with improved cognition and regulating of emotions, and were more mindful and better at describing their feelings. The same group also exhibited gut microbiome activity linked to a healthy gut, with reduced inflammation and gut barrier.
UCLA scientists receive $9.1 million from the NCI to improve early detection methods for cancer
A liquid biopsy is a promising non-invasive medical test using a small volume of blood that gives scientists insight into the genetic makeup of tumors. By analyzing these components, researchers can gain valuable information about the genetic mutations, alterations and other molecular changes associated with the presence of cancer.
UCLA study links fasting to mitochondrial splitting
UCLA researchers found that fasting increases the splitting of mitochondria, which may have implications for metabolic and aging-related diseases. In the study, scientists examined the livers of mice that had been starved and identified the activated proteins.