Dr. Claudio Fiocchi Lab

Claudio Fiocchi, M.D.

Staff, Department of Pathobiology
The Clifford and Jane Anthony Chair for Digestive Disease Research and Education

Our research is focused on the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The approach we have adopted is to investigate immune events occurring in the bowel in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients, as well as in animal models of IBD.

Research interest:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Mucosal immunity

Current Research Programs:

Current studies include the identification of mechanisms of mucosal T-cell death and survival in gut inflammation, investigation of tolerance of mucosal T cells for autologous enteric flora and their possible loss in IBD, characterization of the interactions between mucosal T cells and endothelial and stromal cells, and the study of immune-driven angiogenesis in intestinal inflammation.

Experiments are carried out using mononuclear cells isolated from the intestinal mucosa, especially T cells and T-cell subsets, epithelial cells, microvascular endothelial cells, myofibroblasts and stromal cell-derived extracellular matrix.

Our overall goal is to uncover fundamental defects of immunoregulation that may underlie the triggering or maintenance of a chronic state of inflammation in the bowel.

  • Shardul Bhilocha, M.S.
  • Sean Kessler, Ph.D.
  • Florian Rieder, M.D.
  • Chaorui Tian
  • Ming-His Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Gail West, B.S.
  • NIH/NIDDK, 5R37 DK30399 (C. Fiocchi, PI)
    Title: Mucosal Lymphokines in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    This study is aimed at the investigation of the signal transduction pathways involved in activation, growth and regulation of mucosal T-cells derived from normal and inflammatory bowel disease involved intestine.
  • NIH/NIDDK, 5R01 DK50984 (C. Fiocchi, PI)
    Title: Cell Interactions in the Inflamed Intestinal Mucosa
    This study is aimed at the investigation of the interaction between immune and non-immune cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.  Specifically, mesenchymal and endothelial cells from the intestinal mucosa will be assessed for their capacity of modulating the function of mucosal T lymphocytes. 
  • NIH/NIDDK, RO1 DK69854 (C. Fiocchi, PI)
    Title: The role of angiogenesis in IBD pathogenesis
    This proposal focuses on the potential role of new vessel formation in the intestinal mucosa on the initiation and maintenance of chronic intestinal inflammation.