{"id":3586,"date":"2013-06-13T18:43:56","date_gmt":"2013-06-13T22:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/gi\/gi\/research\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T11:04:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T15:04:24","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/medicine\/gi\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We are committed to advancing the understanding of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and developing new treatments and cures for those who suffer from these conditions. We publish more than 250 scientific manuscripts published each year. Twenty-five faculty have received grant support from the federal government, foundations, and industry. Total UNC GI research funding exceeds $20 million annually, placing us among the leaders in research funding in the U.S.<\/p>\n

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Focus Areas<\/h2>\n

Our nationally and internationally recognized researchers have interests that span the full spectrum of gastrointestinal and liver diseases. The following are particular areas of emphasis:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nColon Cancer<\/span>

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Members of the UNC GI Division have made major contributions to our understanding of the cause of colorectal cancer and approaches to screening and early detection. Current research is investigating the immune contexture of colorectal polyps, the relationship between the gut microbiome and colon polyps and cancer, stool DNA and other biomarkers for the detection of colorectal cancer, and the comparative effectiveness of different colorectal cancer screening tests. UNC GI investigators also study colonoscopy quality, best practices for colonoscopic polyp resection, and the use of artificial intelligence to improve the performance of colonoscopy. Researchers in the GI division collaborate with other investigators in UNC\u2019s Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC School of Pharmacy, and UNC\u2019s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center on a variety of population health projects related to colorectal cancer screening and health disparities research.<\/p>\n

Affiliated investigators:<\/strong> Temitope Keku<\/a>, Sarah McGill<\/a>, David F. Ransohoff,<\/a> and Robert S. Sandler.<\/a>
\n<\/div>\nEsophageal Diseases<\/span>

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UNC is one of the few divisions in the country to have a center dedicated to research and clinical advances in the care of patients with esophageal diseases. At the UNC Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing (CEDAS), our research focuses on pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions of the esophagus, including Barrett\u2019s esophagus (BE), as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and the other eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs), and esophageal motility disorders. A major focus of our work is to develop new testing strategies and treatment options for these diseases. With our affiliated basic science labs, we perform translational research to better understand the pathogenesis of BE, esophageal cancer, EoE, EGIDs, and GERD.\u202f We also have a large clinical trials program designed to advance treatment of these conditions.<\/p>\n

Affiliated investigators:<\/strong> Evan S. Dellon<\/a>, Walker Redd<\/a>, Craig Reed<\/a>, and Nicholas J. Shaheen<\/a>.
\n<\/div>\nFunctional GI and Motility Disorders<\/span>

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The UNC Center for Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders has been a top\u202fcenter internationally for research on irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and fecal incontinence. Research includes translational studies on the stool microbiome and genetic contributions to IBS; clinical studies of the physiological and psychological mechanisms for symptoms; development and validation of diagnostic criteria; epidemiological studies; and systems-based research on health care delivery.<\/p>\n

Affiliated investigators:<\/strong> Spencer D. Dorn<\/a>, Olafur S. Palsson<\/a>, and Yolanda Scarlett.<\/a>
\n<\/div>\nIntestinal Stem Cells<\/span>

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Research in the intestinal stem cell group is focused on mechanisms underlying ISC maintenance and differentiation in physiology and disease. We study the interrelations between the epithelial stem cells (ISCs) and cells of the ISC niche, including Paneth cells, enteroendocrine cells and lymphocytes. Outside of basic biology questions, the group has a strong interest in developing new ISC-driven\u202fex vivo platforms to model and report epithelial functions, such as barrier function, nutrient handling and host-microbiota interactions. CRISPR-gene editing on 2D gut ISC monolayers is also a major focus of the group to develop more precise and robust genetic disease models. All together we have a comprehensive team of ISC investigators that emphasize translating basic science and biomedical engineering to address challenging problems in human GI health conditions.<\/p>\n

Affiliated investigators:<\/strong> Scott T. Magness<\/a>
\n<\/div>\nGI Epidemiology and Health Services Research<\/span>

\nUNC has had an NIH funded program to train physicians in digestive disease epidemiology, outcomes and health services research since 1990. Currently the division has many members who have advanced training in epidemiology or biostatistics and who study a variety of digestive conditions.<\/p>\n

Affiliated Investigators:<\/strong> Shifali Arora<\/a>, Edward L. Barnes<\/a>, A. Sidney Barritt<\/a>, Seth D. Crockett<\/a>, Evan S. Dellon<\/a>, Sasha Deutsch-Link<\/a>, Spencer D. Dorn<\/a>, Millie D. Long<\/a>, Andrew Moon<\/a>, Anne Peery<\/a>, David F. Ransohoff<\/a>, Walker Redd,<\/a>\u00a0Craig Reed,<\/a>\u00a0Nicholas J. Shaheen<\/a>, and Robert S. Sandler<\/a>.
\n<\/div>\nInflammatory Bowel Diseases<\/span>

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The members of the UNC Multidisciplinary IBD Center for Research and Treatment are nationally and internationally recognized IBD researchers in the fields of epidemiology, genetics, mucosal immunology and the intestinal microbiome. The physicians of the IBD Center direct national and international multi-center clinical trials on novel IBD treatments and collect observational clinical data and biosamples for IBD patients in various large prospective cohorts. Funding for such diverse research comes from organizations includingthe NIH, the Crohn\u2019s and Colitis Foundation, the American College of Gastroenterology, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Helmsley Foundation, and industry.<\/p>\n

Affiliated Investigators:<\/strong> Jonathan J. Hansen<\/a>, John Haydek<\/a>, Hans H. Herfarth<\/a>, Michael D. Kappelman<\/a>, Millie D. Long<\/a>, Gabrielle Ritaccio<\/a>, R. Balfour Sartor<\/a>, and Shehzad Z. Sheikh.<\/a>
\n<\/div>\nLiver Diseases<\/span>

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The UNC Liver Center Faculty conduct a wide-range of epidemiologic, clinical outcomes research, and clinical trials. There are multiple industry, NIH, and PCORI sponsored programs investigating the treatment nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, drug induced liver injury, hepatocellular carcinoma, psychosocial factors in chronic liver diseases, alcohol associated liver disease and liver transplant outcomes.<\/p>\n

Affiliated Investigators:<\/strong> A. Sidney Barritt IV<\/a>, Sasha Deutsch-Link<\/a>, Donna Evon<\/a>, Oren Fix<\/a>, Michael W. Fried<\/a>, Andrew Moon<\/a>, and Hersh Shroff<\/a>.
\n<\/div>\nMicrobiome<\/span>

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The intestinal microbiome \u2013 defined as the cumulative genomes of the enteric microbiota \u2013 has been implicated in the genesis and perturbation of numerous gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, and colorectal cancer. Basic scientists in our division that investigate the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and GI diseases use state of the art technology to characterize the taxonomic composition, functionality, genetic content, and transcriptome of the complex microbial community in the GI tract.<\/p>\n

Affiliated Investigators:<\/strong> Aadra Bhatt<\/a>, Andrea Azcarate-Peril<\/a>, Ian Carroll<\/a>, Ajay S. Gulati<\/a>, Jonathan J. Hansen<\/a>, Temitope Keku<\/a>, Robert S. Sandler<\/a>, and R. Balfour Sartor<\/a>.
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Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease<\/h3>\n

Since 1983 the research for the division has been coordinated by the\u202fCenter for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease<\/a>, one of the 17 Digestive Disease Research Centers funded by the National Institutes of Health. The mission of the center is to promote and enhance multidisciplinary digestive disease research. The center sponsors:<\/p>\n