Schumacher Gut Science Lab

Tissue immunity and epithelial re-modeling in IBD

The Schumacher Gut Science Lab is focused on discovering new regenerative medicine approaches and therapeutic targets for intestinal inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

We study immune and epithelial drivers of tissue remodeling, function, and regeneration in the gut. In particular, our focus is on understanding how stem and secretory cells are regulated to promote intestinal health and the response to disease.

What we study

Why we study this

The function and composition of the gastrointestinal tract is dynamically regulated to maintain homeostasis and appropriately respond to injury, inflammation and infection. Inadequate responses to insult can lead to acute and long-term disease.

Our lab is focused on identifying and harnessing key regulatory circuits that control tissue re-modeling to limit intestinal injury and promote mucosal healing in IBD.

Growing the gut

Organoid modeling enables us to understand human intestinal stem cell biology and the response to disease

Imaging the gut

Microscopy is a key driver of discovery in our lab and allows us to see tissue & immune re-modeling at the cellular level

Mapping the gut

Spatial transcriptomics & proteomics allow us to understand cellular communication networks in the intestinal stem cell niche

Profiling the gut

Transcriptomic sequencing in experimental models of inflammation allows us to test cell-driven pathophysiological mechanisms of IBD

Publications

Explore our published findings

Tissue immunity regulates colonic deep crypt secretory (DCS) cells

Stem cells are an immunological niche in the colon

Mucosal Immunology

The Gut Science Lab Team

Research and Grant Support:

Supported by grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases