Entries by Academic Web Pages

Bioimaging Core (BIC)

The Bioimaging Core (BIC) provides state-of-the-art and functional imaging techniques to precisely study mechanisms of health and disease of the digestive tract and liver. Besides a sophisticated suite of confocal, multiphoton, super-resolution and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopes, the small animal imaging unit will provide magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, computed tomography imaging, and optical imaging of mice to functionally study signaling and metabolic pathways. These analyses are complemented by the development of high resolution MALDI imaging to detect virtually any small molecule at a near single cell level as well as SCAPE imaging, a novel near microscopy-resolution optical platform based on endogenous tissue fluorescence in small animals and tissues. Multi-core workflows will integrate analyses with the other CU-DLDRC cores.
Make a Request for Small Animal Imaging
Make a request for Microscopy

Organoid & Cell Culture Core (OCCC)

The Organoid and Cell Culture Core (OCCC) generates models that replicate the structural and functional complexity of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The core offers a wide range of cryopreserved mouse and human organoids from various sites of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach intestine, pancreas, liver), including organoids from transgenic mice, e.g. expressing Cas9 and dCas9. The core also offers a repository of passage-annotated and myoplasma-free cell cell lines, as well as advanced 3D cell culture platforms, protocols and technologies. Through collaborations with other CU-DLDRC cores, OCCC will assist CU-DLDRC members to functionally analyze transcriptional regulators, e.g. through Cas9 and dCas9-transgenic organoids and organoid- and cell-based drug and CRISPR screens. Make a Service Request

Clinical Biospecimen & Research Core (CBRC)

The Clinical Biospecimen and Research Core (CBRC) will provide a repository of stored biospecimens from the gastrointestinal tract and liver. The core provides skilled support in sample management including procurement, processing and storage; histological and single nucleus RNA-seq of human biospecimens; as well as data management. The overall goal is to provide assistance in transferring laboratory research concepts into clinical trials and development with the goal of accelerating research and trials so that it can make an impact in the clinic as early as reasonably possible. A particular focus on CBRC will be to link its biospecimens to services provided by the other CU-DLDRC cores. The CBRC seeks to achieve its mission of link clinical biospecimens and data to novel research concepts through four organ-focused clinical basic teams (CBT) that will connect clinical and basic researchers and fertilize translational research.

Subtheme 1: Epithelial Homeostasis, Metabolism, and Regeneration

Theme 2 is centered on three related areas that are of major importance to digestive and liver diseases: Epithelial homeostasis and stem cell biology; metabolism and its effect on the epithelial compartment; as well as mechanisms of regeneration following injury and the interplay and roles of different cell types in this setting.  The theme capitalizes on Columbia University’s reputation for excellence in gut stem cell biology, metabolism, and enteric neuroscience.  Senior investigators with a strong record of excellence in epithelial biology, regeneration and metabolism lead a highly interactive group of investigators studying intestinal and liver epithelial cell and stem cell biology, regeneration as well as lipid metabolism.

Subtheme 2: Epithelial Interactions in Inflammation and Preneoplasia

Subtheme 2 focuses on the critically important problem of chronic inflammation of the digestive system, which underlies inflammatory bowel disease as well as many types of liver diseases; and can predispose to GI and liver cancer. The theme is headed by two leaders in the field with a sustained record of excellence in enteric immunology and pre-neoplasia. The theme amalgamates a highly collaborative group of investigators studying the interaction of the gut microbiome, immunity and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract and liver.

Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, PhD CUIMC

Host : Robert Schwabe

Talk Title : “Interplays in genetic and environmental risk factors in esophageal carcinogenesis”

Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm | 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032 United States

Michael Verzi, PhD, Rutgers University

Host : Robert Schwabe

Talk Title : “Regulatory mechanisms of epithelial homeostasis – staying on the treadmill”

Wednesday, January 15th, 2020 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032 United States

Robert Schwabe, MD CUIMC

Host : Timothy Wang

Talk Title : “Deciphering liver fibroblasts”

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032 United States

Neil Henderson, PhD University of Edinburgh

Host : Robert Schwabe

Talk Title : “Using single cell RNA sequencing to investigate the fibrotic niche in human liver cirrhosis”

Wednesday, November 6th, 2019 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032 United States