Molecular and microbiota signatures underlying colonic diverticular disease

Scientific activity

Our research group has always been characterised by pursuing translational research, starting in the clinical and care setting and moving on to basic research, understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for clinical manifestations and using this knowledge to improve the diagnosis, treatment and therapy of patients.

Commitment to research and innovation aimed at improving the health of patients remain the fundamental goals of our work, along with educational and training efforts for young scholars in clinical and basic research.

We investigate functional and organic gastrointestinal diseases by studying their pathophysiology and by trying to identify biomarkers useful for diagnosis, prognosis and to monitor the response to therapy. In particular, our research projects concern:

• Translational research in functional gastrointestinal diseases, colonic diverticular disease, intestinal dysbiosis, gluten sensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal infectious diseases;

• Analysis of the intestinal microbiota;

• The study of molecular mechanisms involved in changes in epithelial permeability and in altered immune and nervous activation among patients with intestinal diseases;

• The analysis of altered intestinal permeability using in vivo and in vitro approaches;

• The characterisation of immune mechanisms involved in enteric neuroplastic alterations in patients with intestinal diseases;

• Innovative therapies for functional gastrointestinal diseases, intestinal dysmicrobism;
  Transplantation of bowel microbiota;

• Identification of biomarkers and development of diagnostic tests for gastrointestinal diseases.

Projects

• Characterisation of molecular mechanisms and microbiota in the diverticular disease of the colon