Gastroenterology

Led by Drs. Anthony Blikslager and Amanda Ziegler, the Comparative Gastroenterology Lab aims to study translational development of gut health using large animal models, primarily pigs. In multidisciplinary collaboration with Drs. Jack Odle, Laurianne Van Landeghem and Scott Magness, the lab is USDA and NIH funded to study intensively the roles of nutritional inputs in the development of a healthy and disease-resistant intestinal microbiome, enteric nervous system, and epithelial barrier. Our ultimate objective is to develop clinical interventions to aid in restoring the mucosal barrier in patients suffering from diseases associated with increased intestinal permeability.