Research Faculty

The Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition is led by Irving Waxman, MD, who works with his research team of Rush physician scientists, clinician investigators and scientists to investigate and expand knowledge of disease mechanisms and improve patient care.

Please click on each research faculty member’s name below to view their profile.

Physician scientists

Ali Keshavarzian, MD

• Director, Center for Integrated Microbiome and Chronobiology Research
  Director, Rush Crohn’s & Colitis Center, Institute for Advanced Study of the Gut, Chronobiology and Inflammation
• Investigates GI intestinal barrier and gut microbiota and how these are impacted by the Western lifestyle including: alcohol, stress, Circadian rhythms and sleep.
• Investigates how “leaky gut” and dysbiosis promote inflammation-mediated diseases such as IBD, IBS, allergic disorders, colon cancer, HIV, hepatic (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, alcoholic steatohepatitis) disease, as well as disorders associated with neuroinflammation (Parkinson’s disease).
• Preventive treatments of GI disorders with prebiotics and probiotics
• Publications

Rana Abraham, MD, MS

• Circadian rhythms, gastroesophageal reflux disease , constipation and esophageal motility disorders
• Publications

Costica Aloman, MD

• Director, Liver Transplant Program
• Immune modulation of liver fibrosis, effect of alcohol on mononuclear phagocytes, circadian rhythm and immune system, mechanisms of autoimmunity
• Learn more about Dr. Aloman’s work
• Publications

Faraz Bishehsari, MD, PhD

• Associate Director for Molecular & Translational Research for the Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome & Chronobiology Research
• GI cancers (colon cancer and pancreatic adenocarcinomas) and how these are impacted by the modern lifestyle including: abnormal food timing, circadian rhythms, diet and alcohol.
• Publications

Garth Swanson, MD, MS

• Associate Director, Center for Integrated Microbiome and Chronobiology Research
  Director, Rush Crohn’s & Colitis Center
• Medical Director, the Center for Clinical Chronobiology
• Alcohol, circadian rhythms, intestinal permeability, GI inflammation, IBD and IBS
• Publications

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Clinician investigators

Michael Brown, MD, MACM

• Director of the GI and Hepatology Fellowship Program
• Functional bowel disorders and colonoscopy quality measures and preparations
• Publications

Mark T. DeMeo, MD

• Section Chief, Gastroenterology
• Director of the Celiac Disease Clinic
• Celiac disease, food allergy, breath hydrogen and endoprotease
• Publications

Sheila Eswaran, MD, MS

• Liver Cancer, Adult Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Psychosocial Aspects of Liver Disease
• Publications

Shriram Jakate, MD

• Pathology-anatomic/pathology-clinical
• Publications

Sujit Janardhan, MD, PhD

• Alcoholic Liver Disease, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Cancer
• Publications

Sharon Jedel, PsyD

• Anxiety, depression, IBS, IBD, stress, health psychology and coping with GI disorders
• Publications

Donald M. Jensen, MD

• Clinical trials of newer agents for hepatitis C therapy, outcomes of patients with liver conditions
• Publications

Salina Lee, MD

• Colon cancer, GI cancer prevention and detection
• Publications

Nikunj Shah, MD

• Alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, liver cancer, hepatitis B and C, liver disease, liver cirrhosis and liver transplant
• Publications

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Scientists

Christopher Forsyth, PhD

• Department of Internal Medicine, Director, Training and Mentoring for the Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome and Chronobiology Research
• Alcohol, cancer, circadian rhythms, gut-brain axis and IBD
• Publications

Robin Voigt-Zuwala, PhD

• Director, Circadian Rhythm Research Laboratory, Rush Center for Circadian Rhythms and Alcohol-Induced Tissue Damage, Director of Operations for the Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome & Chronobiology Research

• Alcohol, circadian rhythms and gut-brain axis
• Publications

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