Research

Researchers in the Division are advancing understanding, early detection, and prevention of gastrointestinal cancers, including those of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, and rectum. Their work spans large-scale clinical trials, translational studies, and biomarker discovery aimed at improving cancer screening and surveillance strategies. Ongoing investigations explore optimal approaches to cancer prevention and early diagnosis, particularly in colorectal and pancreatic cancers, with an emphasis on identifying individuals at increased risk and refining evidence-based screening guidelines. Through extensive collaboration across national research networks and integration of population-based science with clinical innovation, the Division continues to shape the future of gastrointestinal cancer research and patient care.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) research program integrates clinical care, translational science, and population-based studies to improve outcomes for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Through a combination of advanced clinical trials, large-scale patient registries, and genetic and molecular research, investigators are uncovering the factors that influence disease onset, progression, and treatment response. The program’s multidisciplinary approach – uniting gastroenterologists, surgeons, nutritionists, behavioral health experts, and data scientists – emphasizes comprehensive, patient-centered care while driving innovations in precision medicine, quality improvement, and health equity. As an active participant in national and international research collaborations, the program contributes to landmark discoveries and leads studies of emerging therapies, with the shared goal of improving quality of life and moving closer to a cure for IBD.

The Center for Intestinal Health & Nutrition Support is committed to improving nutritional care through basic research translated into clinical practice. This center is engaged in several ongoing research studies including the effect of different types of surgical anastomotic reconstructions on long term intestinal function, the relationship among diet, colonic bacterial flora, and colon cancer, and the prospective investigation of nutritional status in the long-term outcome of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Part of the new Organ Pathobiology and Therapeutics Institute, the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center (PLRC) is a multidisciplinary center that serves as the research core for the Division’s hepatology investigations. One of only 20 research centers nationwide to receive the Digestive Diseases Research Core Center (DDRCC) designation from the NIDDK, the PLRC is committed to intellectual exchange among clinicians and researchers to enhance, enrich, and synergize scientific interactions and collaborations in hepatic pathobiology, leading to improved clinical outcomes through multidisciplinary research with key research areas including chronic liver injury, liver tumorigenesis, and regenerative medicine. The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition also benefits from a strong alignment with the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute. Faculty have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines to advance translational research, improve outcomes for transplant recipients, and develop innovative therapies that shape the future of transplant medicine.

The Neurogastroenterology and Motility research program integrates clinical excellence with cutting-edge investigations into the complex communication between the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Researchers explore how neural, psychological, and immunological mechanisms contribute to disorders of gut-brain interaction, including motility disturbances and functional GI conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and gastroparesis. Using advanced neurophysiological and imaging approaches, the program examines how brain regions influence autonomic control of the GI system and how factors like stress, emotion, and cognition affect symptom expression. Collaborative projects combine neuroscience, bioengineering, and behavioral science to develop novel brain-based and digital therapies for patients with severe or treatment-resistant conditions. Through this multidisciplinary approach, investigators aim to translate insights from basic neurobiology into innovative, personalized treatments that improve both digestive health and quality of life.

The Pancreas and Biliary research program at the University of Pittsburgh brings together a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic and biliary diseases. Recognized internationally for its clinical expertise and translational research, the program integrates cutting-edge imaging, genetics, and molecular diagnostics to improve early detection and therapeutic strategies for conditions such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, and pancreatic cancer. Investigators are uncovering the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying these diseases, developing new tools for pain assessment, and exploring the neural pathways that contribute to inflammation and tumor growth. Through large-scale epidemiologic studies, multicenter clinical trials, and basic science collaborations, researchers aim to translate discoveries into patient-centered advances that reduce disease burden and improve quality of life. This collaborative, innovation-driven approach continues to position the program as a national leader in pancreatic and biliary research and care.