Host-environment interactions in the pathophysiology of digestive disease

Washington University, Saint Louis MO

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This application seeks renewed funding for the Washington University (WU) Digestive Diseases Research Core Center (DDRCC). Our overall objective is to support collaborative, multidisciplinary investigation in “Host-environment interactions in Digestive Disease.” The WU-DDRCC provides infrastructure that promotes basic and translational research of its 55 Full (+ 5 PF) and 18 Associate members, and nurtures career development of junior investigators. Our Research Base is productive, and collaborative as evidenced by 250 original peer reviewed publications citing the DDRCC (65% collaborative involving ≥2 members), including 133 (53%) in journals with impact factors >10. Since 2019, our members also expanded their extramural funding ($30.86M$34.64M; 12% increase). Our members have appointments in 10 different Clinical and Basic Science Departments across WU. Our Research Base interests are organized around three mechanistic themes: (1) Host-microbial interactions, inflammation, and mucosal immunity; (2) Stem cells, epithelial renewal, and preneoplasia; (3) Metabolic homeostasis, nutrient transport and enterohepatic signaling. Three Biomedical Cores support the Base by leveraging institutional resources and evolve by responding to members’ needs for a cost-efficient and high-quality service infrastructure. Our Biomedical Cores include (1) Tissue Analysis and Imaging Core (TAnIC), which provides sophisticated imaging technologies; (2) Organoids and Gene Editing Core (OGEC), which offer organoid and genetic engineering technologies; and (3) Biobank and Big Data Core (BBDC), which shares human specimens from normal and disease states, guides study design, and analyzes large-scale human data. These Cores, overseen by an Administrative Core (ARAC) and guided by Internal and External Advisory Boards (with a newly convened Community Advisory Board), promote collaborative and synergistic interactions by offering advanced services and specialized expertise that reflect current and future needs of the Base. The WU-DDRCC also sponsors an Enrichment Program with visiting researchers and events promoting collaboration, and new initiatives in digestive diseases research. The Enrichment Program especially supports careers of promising trainees by nurturing interests of postdoctoral trainees, fellows, and junior faculty, via targeted retreat and summer student program. The WU-DDRCC has invested considerable resources to nurture new investigators with its Pilot and Feasibility (PF) Program. 95% of PF awardees from 2013 still pursue digestive disease research and they garnered $49.4M in extramural funding (36:1 ROI). The WU-DDRCC also promotes and shares technology development with NIDDK funded Centers locally as well as regionally, via Midwest Alliance of DDRCCs and the NIDDK Center program. Our proposal seeks to continue WU-DDRCC’s contributions to science, bringing discoveries to the broad populations we serve, diversification of our workforce community and nurturing the next generation of digestive diseases researchers. Our aims and practices are compliant with all NIH guidelines.