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Pediatric Gastroenterology Research

Two men in white coats standing in a lab and smiling at the camera

Funded gastroenterology research in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology spans a wide range of important areas in both basic science and clinical investigation.

The Division's varied research interests include single- and multicenter clinical studies in acute liver failure, liver transplantation, inflammatory bowel disease, and capsule endoscopy. UT Southwestern hosts more than 40 ongoing, IRB-approved clinical trials. Our Division’s research also identified novel genes that play a role in early-onset IBD.

Hepatology

Hepatology, both basic and clinical, comprises the most active area of investigation.

  • Charina Ramirez, M.D., is conducting a novel trial evaluating the effects of specialized diets in the treatment of childhood fatty liver disease. Dr. Ramirez's research focus is on metabolic liver disease, including Niemann-Pick type C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  • Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, M.D., is the principal investigator at our site for a national, multicenter, NIH-supported study examining the causes of fulminant hepatic failure in children. Dr. Rodriguez-Baez’s second group of studies involves the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C.
  • Sindhu Pandurangi, M.D., conducts clinical research studying biomarkers in children with cholestatic liver disease as well as Fontan-Associated liver disease.
  • Pranav Shivakumar, Ph.D., seeks to better understand the mechanisms of biliary disease and develop novel therapeutics to promote long-term native liver survival in infants with biliary atresia.
  • Jorge Bezerra, M.D., investigates how developmental defects increase the susceptibility of the biliary epithelium to infectious and toxic insults.

GI Tract

The second general area of active clinical research involves inflammation in the GI tract.

  • Luis Sifuentes-Dominguez, M.D., is working to understand the molecular basis of early-onset inflammatory bowel disease with support from Ezra Burstein, M.D., Ph.D., in the Department of Internal Medicine's Division of Gastroenterology. Using cutting-edge genomic and proteomic approaches, they have identified novel genes that play a role in early-onset IBD. 
  • David M. Troendle, M.D., is pioneering research in advanced endoscopic training and interventional endoscopic approaches for the treatment of pancreatic disease. He is also evaluating educational and training approaches in advanced therapeutic endoscopy for pediatric practitioners.
  • Meg Sathe, M.D., focuses her research on cystic fibrosis and nutrition, cystic fibrosis associated liver disease, and nutrition.
  • Wenjing Zong, M.D., researches intestinal rehabilitation, enteral nutrition, microbiomes, and biomarker discoveries.
  • Bhaskar Gurram, M.D., is interested in work-up of early-onset inflammatory bowel disease and in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • Nonye Ebigbo, M.D., focuses on translational gut microbiome research. She studies the interplay between the commensal microbiota and the immune system and has a special interest in gut microbiota population modulation as a therapeutic modality for gastrointestinal diseases in children.

Learn more about the research interests of our Division faculty and current fellows.

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