Basic Science Research

Basic science research by faculty members within the section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition is centered around two general themes, intestinal development and differentiation, and metabolism and obesity.

Intestinal development and differentiation

Susan Henning, Ph.D. (director of research training) has studied the clinically important question of the role of glucocorticoid hormones in pre- and post-natal maturation of the small intestine. She has begun studies of intestinal stem cells (performed collaboratively with Christopher Dekaney, Ph.D. and Michael Helmrath, M.D. in the department of surgery).

Saul Karpen, M.D., Ph.D. (director of the liver center) uses animal and tissue culture models to study the molecular pathophysiology and therapy of cholestasis.

Beth Carter, M.D. studies nuclear receptor in the regulation of hepatic bile acid transport as well as the potential role of phytosterols in TPN associated cholestasis. Closely related work is being preformed by Romi Ghose, Ph.D., who is interested in hepatic pharmacology and in particular the molecular mechanisms of regulation of endobiotic/xenobiotic metabolism.

The final member of the liver group is Sundararajah Thevananther, Ph.D., who studies liver regeneration with emphasis on the role of purinergic signaling in hepatocellular function.

The themes of intestinal development and differentiation are echoed by the work of investigators outside our section including:

Douglas Burrin, Ph.D., who studies nutritional and hormonal regulation of neonatal intestinal growth and function in piglet models and by Huda Zoghbi, M.D,. who studies molecular genetic approaches to cell specification and degeneration.

The liver theme is expanded by the work of Arthur Beaudet, M.D., who studies hepatic gene therapy; David Moore, Ph.D., who works on the regulation of hepatic metabolism by nuclear receptors; Gretchen Darlington, Ph.D., who is interested in the mechanisms of liver regeneration and in the characterization of liver stem cells; and Betty Slagle, Ph.D., who studies molecular aspects of Hepatitis B virus pathogenesis.

Another major focus of our associated research faculty is intestinal injury. Mary Estes, Ph.D. and Margaret Conner, Ph.D.both study gastrointestinal viruses (Norwalk and rotavirus) with a particular emphasis on mechanisms of pathogenesis and immunity. The mucosal immunity theme is furthered by LuAnn Thompson-Snipes, Ph.D., who studies mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer and James Versalovic, M.D., Ph.D., who studies immunoprobiotics and intestinal microbiology. Intestinal injury by NSAID is studied by Lenard Lichtenberger, Ph.D., who is specifically interested in the regulation of gastric barrier function and by Elizabeth Dial, Ph.D., who investigates protection of the GI mucosa by luminal factors.

Metabolism and obesity

In this area, Lawrence Chan, M.B.,B.S.,D.Sc., studies lipid homeostasis and gene/molecular therapy for diabetes and obesity. Arthur Beaudet, M.D. studies genomic imprinting in Prader-Willi and other syndromes. Molly Bray, Ph.D. studies the genetics of obesity and of the response to treatment, and Buford Nichols, M.D. studies the genetics of starch digestion in both rodents and humans.