The AGA Research Foundation is thrilled to add six exceptional early career investigators to our list of AGA Research Scholar Award recipients – a prestigious group of investigators who have been able to jumpstart their independent research careers with this funding. Meet our recipients and learn more about their research projects below.
Karen Jane Dunbar, PhD
Columbia University, New York
Dr. Dunbar is intrigued by the prospect of pinpointing and targeting specific types of cells in the body that contribute to cancer growth. Her research focuses on understanding how these cells, known as cancer-associated fibroblasts, develop and promote cancer progression in esophageal adenocarcinoma. By uncovering these biological mechanisms, she aims to identify potential targets for new therapies. This work could lead to better ways to screen for and treat precancerous conditions, potentially improving outcomes for patients at risk.
Aaron Hecht MD, PhD
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Hecht’s research investigates the impact of diet on the risk of colonization and dissemination of bacterial pathogens in the gut microbiota. Bacterial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with cirrhosis, but the underlying risk factors are not well defined. He hopes that by defining the mechanisms of these infections, we can better predict those who are at risk and generate novel therapeutics to prevent it.
Sarah Maxwell, MD
University of California, San Francisco
As a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Maxwell plans to identify mechanisms that might mitigate the progression of pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). She hypothesizes that access to fruits and vegetables could mitigate the impact of food insecurity on MASLD severity, possibly preventing further progression of the disease to MASH. For adults with MASLD, food insecurity is associated with poor diet quality – which may exacerbate their metabolic morbidity. While the mechanisms underlying this relationship are yet to be fully understood, there is no research to date on this specific area. She hopes her work will lead to mitigating the impact of food insecurity on MASLD severity and metabolic health in children with food insecurity.
Chung Sang Tse, MD
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Tse’s research focuses on interventions to address psychosocial factors contributing to the non-inflammatory disease burden in IBD. Her clinical trial conducted at diverse IBD centers will inform an implementable, scalable and effective holistic approach to incorporate community resources into routine clinical practice to improve patients’ overall function and reduce IBD-related disability.
Jason (Yanjia) Zhang, MD, PhD
Boston Children's Hospital
The gut microbiome may be affecting what you eat and how much, and Dr. Zhang’s research aims to figure out how. There are many examples of microbes controlling some aspect of behavior in their hosts. Dr. Zhang believes that the gut microbiome plays a role in shaping our eating habits and is pursuing evidence that suggests there may be a key bacteria that controls our sense of fullness. He has already found that children and adolescents with obesity and with loss of control eating have relatively low amounts of this bacteria. This bacteria may have the ability to help patients feel fuller, eat healthier and fight obesity.
Joseph R Burclaff, PhD
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Burclaff’s research examines how transcription factors in intestinal stem cells control cell cycle and metabolism. He studies how these changes impact stem cell behavior and how they might contribute to disease. His project aims to pinpoint key transcription factors involved in early stages of IBD. This could pave the way for clinical trials testing new or repurposed therapies for treating or preventing IBD.
