CRI Funded Scientists

Alexis R. Gibson, PhD, CRI-Bristol Myers Squibb Postdoctoral Fellow

Oregon Health & Science University

Area of Research: Colorectal Cancer, Stomach Cancer

Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) extrusion is required for homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract. Aberrant cell extrusion is commonly observed during infection, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colorectal cancer. When the process of extrusion becomes perturbed during inflammation, the intestinal barrier can be breached exacerbating disease. Cell extrusion must be studied in the context of primary cell models given that prior studies have missed important targets. Dr. Gibson will utilize murine intestinal organoid models to determine the key players in IEC extrusion. Using functional proteomics, she will discover the signaling pathway of cell extrusion following inflammasome activation. These results will be extended by screening top candidates in human IBD patient-derived organoids. Dr. Gibson will also evaluate the role of eicosanoid signaling during cell extrusion, linking its pathogenesis of IBD and colorectal cancer to epithelial cell extrusion. Her study will inform our understanding of the causes of IBD and establish new models of IBD and progression to colorectal cancer.

Dr. Gibson is supported by the CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship to Promote Racial Diversity.

Projects and Grants

Pathways of intestinal epithelial cell extrusion and inflammation

Oregon Health & Science University | Colorectal Cancer, Stomach Cancer | 2023 | Isabella Rauch, PhD

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