Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

IBD – comprised of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) – is a chronic inflammatory disease with growing prevalence throughout the world. It is believed to arise from a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental factors that trigger an inappropriate mucosal inflammatory response. A critical role for the microbiome in the pathogenesis of IBD has been supported by studies revealing alterations in the composition and function of the intestinal microbiome in IBD patients and animal studies demonstrating that gut microbes modulate severity of experimental IBD models. 

The IBD research program of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center is undertaking a wide-range of human and preclinical studies to identify gut microbes and their metabolites that drive the development and progression of IBD and characterize their interactions with the intestinal immune system. Specific areas of focus include understanding microbial changes that precede the onset of IBD, investigating dietary effects on the IBD-associated microbiome and intestinal inflammation, and defining brain-gut-microbiome pathways in IBD that mediate the link between stress and disease flares. Building on these insights, our translational research team aims to develop novel treatment strategies that incorporate dietary interventions, modulation of stress-induced pathways, and microbial therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for our IBD patients.

Program Leads

Jonathan P. Jacobs, MD, PhD

Jonathan P. Jacobs, MD, PhD
Co-Director, Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center
Assistant Professor-in-Residence
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Dr. Limketkai standing in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Berkeley Limketkai, MD, PhD
Director of Clinical Research, UCLA Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Jenny Sauk, MD

Jenny Sauk, MD
Director, Clinical Care, UCLA Center for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Disease
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA