Clinical/Research Interests
My laboratory is interested in the role of the microbiome in chronic visceral and somatic pain. This pertains to disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Over twenty percent of patients with IBD continue to experience chronic abdominal pain despite achieving mucosal healing on endoscopy. Chronic abdominal pain is a devastating symptom, resulting in high levels of anxiety, depression and poor quality of life in IBD patients. Unfortunately, effective treatments for chronic pain are limited. At present, it is estimated that 5-25% of IBD outpatients are on chronic narcotic therapy, which is not only ineffectual but can worsen abdominal pain and increase the risk of death. Our overall goal is to develop innovative approaches to the treatment of chronic pain in IBD, thus improving quality of life and preventing the use of chronic narcotic therapy. |
