Spotlight on Research
The GastroIntestinal Research Foundation Launches New Multi-Million Dollar Funding Initiative Aimed at Curing Cancers of the Digestive System
CHICAGO, Nov. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite centuries of research, treating and curing...
ANNOUNCEMENT: GI Research Foundation Launches NEW Cancer Cure Funding Initiative
The GI Research Foundation is proud to announce the CA CURE initiative, made possible through a...
Research Spotlight: How Do We Assess Cancer Risk, and Prevent Cancer, and Improve Mortality? Featuring Sonia Kupfer, MD
Explains Kupfer, “Number one, we want to understand better how some of these chemopreventive agents are working. For example, there is good clinical-trials data that aspirin prevents colon cancer, specifically in Lynch syndrome. Now, we can look at how it works, and target those pathways. Secondly, we can determine who may respond best to which therapy, or who may have more response, and use that information to build more robust treatments. That’s the big vision here. But it’s early days right now.”
New Equipment Funded by the GI Research Foundation at the 61st Annual Ball
GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler “Like being inside a tissue sample at a molecular level” Maps the...
Research Spotlight: Cambrian Liu, PhD, On Reprogramming Stem Cells to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Explained Dr. Liu, “Consider that a disease flare is like a forest fire, and the drugs we have in our arsenal are firefighters. What no drug does currently is focus on the restoration of the intestine after a flare.”
Research Spotlight: Sonia Kupfer, MD, the Role of Bile Acids in Colorectal Cancer Disparities
“In order to achieve our goal of reducing the burden of GI cancers, we practice and strive for early detection and personalized medicine. Personalized medicine moves away from one-size-fits-all approaches, and integrates knowledge about a person’s genetics, personal and family history, and environmental risk factors, to provide tailored care to the individual.”
David T. Rubin, MD on The Power of Inquiry at the 61st Annual GIRF Ball
“GIRF has, as it always has, kept its eyes on the bigger picture as we have worked to develop our largest endeavor ever: our regenerative medicine program. As mentioned briefly last year during this Ball, regenerative medicine is the study of how tissues develop and mature into different organs, and how tissue injury occurs and changes with age or disease can be repaired or replaced. The potential applications for such a program are incredibly exciting, and may include tissue healing in inflammatory bowel disease, and organ regeneration in intestinal, liver, or pancreas failure conditions. Ultimately, these discoveries will yield new insights and treatments for GI cancer as well.”
Patient Story: Prof. Kelli Morgan McHugh, Opera Singer and Professor
Explains Prof. McHugh, “In hindsight, I’m a person who is always going go to get up, take care of my kids, go to work… I’m going put on some lipstick and I’m going to do my best. But maybe part of the psychology of [a digestive disease], an invisible disease, is that people are accustomed to hiding it. But you have to get past that. I wish I’d gone to [Dr. Dalal], and that I had trusted my gut sooner about not getting the right care.”
2022 Ball Honoree: Ira Hanan, MD, Reflections on a Lifetime of Service
Dr. Hanan’s clinical expertise has helped thousands of patients with a variety of GI concerns and caring for patients was always the centerpiece of his work. “The most gratifying thing is seeing people get better,” he explains. “When they come to you, they’re sick. You give them a treatment plan, you listen to them, and they are getting well again. Now, when patients learn I’m retiring and leaving, I hear them say, ‘You’ve made such a change in my life.’ And that is what it’s all about.”
Other Recent News
Gut-Friendly Recipe: Midwinter Soup
“When patients with active inflammatory bowel disease start eliminating food, fiber is the first thing that they tend to restrict.” Says Courtney Schuchmann, registered dietitian at the University of Chicago Medicine Digestive Diseases Center. “But many studies show that the fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are also the most beneficial for minimizing inflammation.”
While some patients with strictures (narrowing of parts of the digestive system due to scar tissue and inflammation) must monitor their diet to avoid bowel obstruction, Ms. Schuchmann generally recommends a diet rich in dietary fiber, even for patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Create Your Legacy: Report a Gift to the GastroIntestinal Research Foundation in Your Will or Trust
If you’ve included GI Research Foundation in your estate plan, thank you! You can use the tool below to let us know so we can let you know about the life-changing research your gift supports! Importantly, we want to personally thank you for considering our work as a part of your legacy.
Visceral: Podcast Episode – The Art and Science of IBD Treatment (episode 2)
In the latest episode of Visceral: Listen to Your Gut, Russell D. Cohen, MD, and Emily Dobrez, APN, discuss the ways patients can best manage their Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis using the latest available treatments.
Meet Allison Thielen: GastroIntestinal Research Foundation’s New Finance and Operations Manager Shares Her Story
I have been fascinated by medicine and the human body since I was a small child. While other pre-teens spent the early 1990s watching the docudrama series, Rescue 911, or the TV drama, ER, I was disappointed in their fictitious nature and scoured the education channels for real surgery shows. I love learning about anatomy, disease, what can go wrong, and all the methods physician scientists have developed to heal people.
Take a Research Learning Journey With Us
Ever since becoming the Executive Director of the GastroIntestinal Research Foundation (Foundation), all my Zoom calls with my family start with a question from my brother with Crohn’s, “Have you found a cure yet?” While I can’t answer yes, I can tell him about the incredible research the Foundation is funding and its promise of a cure for Crohn’s and other digestive diseases. I value his continued urging to stay focused on the mission.
Gut-Friendly Recipe: Pureed Parsnips with Olive Oil and Fresh Herbs
Many parsnip recipes call for a great deal of rich butter and heavy cream… delicious, but also sometimes complicated for people with digestive diseases or other health concerns. In this recipe, you roast the parsnips before pureeing, which helps their unique flavor shine, and then add vegetable or chicken stock to create the classic velvety smooth texture. Finishing the dish with a drizzle of olive oil and a handful of chopped fresh herbs helps make this simple dish special-occasion-worthy, while also being easier to digest and gluten-free.
Season’s Eatings: How digestive diseases patients can cope with the challenges of the holidays, with Courtney Schuchmann, Registered Dietitian at the University of Chicago Medicine
From Halloween through the New Year, it can feel like every gathering – from family dinners to holiday parties and cookie exchanges – centers around food. What should be a happy holiday season often becomes a challenging ‘food season’ for those living with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Celiac disease, liver disease, pancreatic disease, or those struggling with metabolic and weight-related concerns. Fortunately, Courtney Schuchmann, registered dietitian at the University of Chicago Medicine Digestive Diseases Center, has some helpful guidance.
Visceral: Podcast Episode – The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Your Health (episode 1)
In this episode, we interview Dr. Eugene Chang, a national and renowned physician-scientist from the University of Chicago. In his lab, he and his team study the interactive relationship between intestinal microbes and the gut they live in, a relationship that is fundamental to our health. When the right balance is disturbed, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Celebrities and Pro-Athletes Swing into A Winning All-Star Challenge!
On Monday, August 29th the GI Research Foundation hosted the Larry A. Pogofsky All-Star Challenge—On the Greens at Bryn Mawr Country Club in Lincolnwood. Pro-athletes – including Chicago greats Ozzie Guillen, Chris Chelios, Willie Gault and more – joined foursomes to honor Larry’s love of sports and continue his legacy of funding research to better treat, prevent and cure digestive diseases.