Developing Innovative Gastroenterology Specialty Training (DIGEST) Program

I am working with Drs. Manu Jain and Michelle Prickett to form pertinent research questions regarding the gastrointestinal health of patients with cystic fibrosis. Our first project, currently being submitted to the IRB, involves creating a survey characterizing the gastrointestinal function in cystic fibrosis. To our knowledge, this has never been done in the adult population using validated gastrointestinal survey tools. From here, we plan on designing and conducting clinical trials aiming improving digestive health, with a likely focus on motility and constipation. The DIGEST grant will help foster this collaboration by not only providing time dedicated in the CF clinic, but also help create a network of other gastroenterologists who share the same interest in CF. Seeing patients with CF is extremely rewarding, and I find that more often than not I am able to help improve their gastrointestinal health. However, questions do remain unanswered, and I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to help answer some of them. The DIGEST grant will help pave the way to make CF a productive academic niche.