Our trainees and faculty are dedicated to innovation and advancing the field of pediatric gastroenterology. The Department of Pediatrics at IU School of Medicine ranks in the top ten in NIH funding and total research funding in the United States. The Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition has an outstanding record of innovative research across basic, translational and clinical sciences. This includes routine, broad participation in clinical trials and national networks involving leading-edge treatments and therapies, engagement in implementation sciences, and basic-translational studies. Over just the past two years, our investigators have published in top-tier journals including Gastroenterology, Hepatology, JPGN, Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Science Translational Medicine, Nature Immunology, Cell Metabolism and others. We prioritize and scaffold for our fellow trainees to publish their work in the most visible journals in our field.
Fellows who are oriented toward a career in discovery and investigation are strongly encouraged to apply to our highly individualized research track in the basic, translational, clinical and implementation sciences. Fellows on this track will receive close mentorship specifically geared toward the physician-scientist, with opportunities to compete for foundation awards, an NIH NRSA F31 award and an NIH K08.
Expertise
Faculty in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition participate in research related to inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic disorders, gastrointestinal motility (neurogastroenterology), liver disease, celiac disease, pancreatic diseases, nutrition, transplant and advanced endoscopy. Faculty investigators participate in numerous national databases and treatment studies, clinical trials, large multi-center studies and evidence-based outcomes research that translate into improved care for pediatric gastrointestinal patients. The group is part of Improve Care Now, a network of clinicians, researchers, parents and patients dedicated to quality improvement and transformational health care for children with inflammatory bowel disease.
Current areas of research include acid peptic disease, acute liver failure, allergic intestinal diseases (including eosinophilic esophagitis), biliary atresia, celiac disease, cholestatic liver diseases (including alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, Alagille’s, PFIC), computerized approaches to medical education, constipation and motility problems, cystic fibrosis, drug-induced liver injury, fatty liver disease, basic liver metabolism, inflammation and fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD: Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), lactose intolerance, medical decision-making, nutrition, pancreatitis and viral hepatitis.
News and Accolades
- Kathyrn Hawa, DO, (faculty) was awarded the 2024 NASPGHAN Early Clinical Investigator Award.
- Audra Rougraff, MD, (fellow) was awarded as a CF Foundation Fellow 2024-2025
- Stef Tica, MD, MPH, (fellow) was awarded the 2024-2025 AASLD Advanced Hepatology / Transplant Fellow’s Award
- Coco Svenstrup, MD, (fellow) was awarded with a Fellows Abstract Travel Award to the 2025 ASPEN conference.
- Tina Zhang, MD, PhD, Sara Naramore, MD, and Brian DeBosch, MD, PhD, (faculty) received CTSI Heartland Nutrition Grants.