Research and Clinical Trials

The research mission of the Division of Gastroenterology is to advance the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive tract, liver and pancreas.

Discoveries into the underlying mechanisms of gastrointestinal diseases and new treatment approaches are facilitated by a large research base within Massachusetts General Hospital and the NIH-funded Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Research Labs

Dr. Ashwin Anathakrishnan

My research focuses on understanding the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel diseases, identifying predictors of natural history of disease, and defining high-risk subgroups. The overarching goal of my research is to work towards improving our understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases, and developing a personalized medicine approach to the management of IBD.

Dr. Andrew T. Chan

Our research is focused on traditional, molecular, and genetic epidemiology of digestive diseases, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Dr. Daniel C. Chung

Elucidating the genetic events in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis

Dr. Raymond T. Chung

Research on hepatitis C persistence and pathogenesis, HCV pathogenesis and HCV and HIV co-infection.

Dr. Kathleen Corey

Our research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Dr. Jules Dienstag

Viral hepatitis (trials of antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B and C); antiviral therapy for patients refractory to treatment for chronic hepatitis C; the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial.

Dr. Richard Hodin

Molecular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial growth and differentiation; cell cycle regulation and colon carcinogenesis; thyroid hormone regulation of gut development

Dr. Kate Jeffrey

We are interested in how “epigenetic” mechanisms such as histone modifying enzymes and non-coding RNA regulate inflammation and antiviral immunity.

Dr. Lee Kaplan

Our research efforts include trials of new drugs to combat obesity, and studies examining the genetic and physical factors affecting appetite and fat metabolism.

Dr. Peter Kelsey

A prospective comparison of duodenoscope assisted cholangiopancreatoscopy (DACP) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to ERCP alone.

Dr. Braden Kuo

The laboratory is focused upon clinical and translational research in GI motility and visceral pain syndromes such as GERD, gastroparesis, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome.

Dr. Georg Lauer

Understanding the human immune response against viruses, with a focus on T cell responses targeting human hepatotropic viruses (hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B Virus (HBV), HCV/HIV co-infection). Establishing the groundwork for rational design of antiviral vaccines and immunotherapies.

Dr. Emiko Mizoguchi

Our laboratory interests include intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis under normal and inflammatory conditions and role of epithelial cells in innate immune response.

Dr. Alan Mullen

Understanding how long noncoding RNAs regulate embryonic stem cell differentiation and liver fibrosis

Dr. Norman Nishioka

Clinical trial to optimize aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagus.

Dr. Daniel S. Pratt

Database and registry for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and cholangiocarcinoma.

Dr. James Richter

Gastroenterology quality management; colon cancer and polyps; gastrointestinal bleeding; inflammatory bowel disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease

Dr. Ramnik Xavier

Genetic analysis of signal transduction pathways that determine host cell responses to microbes and cancer

Clinical Trials in the Division of Gastroenterology

The Division is currently directing more than 30 clinical trials that seek to improve the treatment and diagnosis of a wide range of gastrointestinal conditions.

Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This NIH-funded center brings together investigators with expertise in key areas integral to study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.