Center
Programs
Pain
Neurobiology Program
Stress Neurobiology Program
Urology Program
Human Research Program
Women's Digestive Health Center
Center for the Study of Digestive Healthcare Quality
and Outcomes
The Pain Neurobiology Program is headed by Drs. James McRoberts and Juan Carlos Marvizón. The program interacts closely with the intracellular signaling program of Dr. Enrique Rozengurt at CURE. Research is focused on the characterization of extra- and intracellular transduction mechanisms on primary and secondary afferent neurons involved in pain transmission.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Characterize receptors and ion channels on primary afferent neurons which play a role in transducing extracellular chemical and mechanical stimuli into local reflex responses and propagated action potentials.
- Characterize molecular mechanisms involved in the development of peripheral and central sensitization.
The Preclinical Stress Biology Program is headed by Drs. Yvette Taché and Million Mulugeta. Other research relates to brain neuronal pathways receiving sensory inputs from the gut through mechano- or chemo-receptors and modulating gut function and appetite.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Define the brain neuronal pathways and biochemical coding involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal function in response to stress.
- Define the role of autonomic pathways in mediating these responses using neuroanatomical, neuropharmacological, electrophysiological and molecular approaches.
The Urology Program is headed by Drs. Tony Buffington and Philip Hanno. Dr. Buffington identified a naturally occurring model of interstitial cystitis (IC) in domestic cats, and Dr. Hanno is a urologist who has been a long-time leader in IC research and patient care. Dr. Hanno is currently Medical Director for Clinical Effectiveness and Quality, University of Pennsylvania Health System. IC is a chronic pelvic pain syndrome referable to the bladder of humans; the primary signs are increased frequency and urgency of urination, and pain associated with the urogenital tract. In addition to similarities to human patients in bladder abnormalities, cats with IC also share comparable sensory, autonomic and neuroendocrine abnormalities.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Compare the local and systemic abnormalities observed in patients with IBS and those with chronic pelvic pain syndromes such as IC.
- Investigate the underlying mechanisms of these abnormalities, using both animal models and patients with IC.
- Translate the results into useful new approaches to therapy for affected patients.
The Human Studies Program is headed by Dr. Bruce Naliboff. The program supports human experimental studies from several Center investigators. These include investigations of perceptual, affective, psychophysiological, neuroendocrine, and brain imaging measures in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and Interstitial Cystitis (IC). A core feature of studies in this program is the focus on common mechanisms of central modulation of symptoms and hypersensitivity within the target organ system.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Examine the role and mechanisms of visceral and pelvic hypersensitivity in IBS and IC.
- Investigate central stress modulation as a characteristic of these disorders.
- Investigate sex-related differences in symptoms and physiological responses related to IBS and IC.
- Develop and test outcomes from psychological and pharmacological treatments based on these hypotheses.
Women's Digestive Health Center
This clinical program is headed by Drs. Lin Chang and Kirsten Tillisch. Patients will be seen in the clinic by several UCLA faculty members with a special interest in functional gastrointestinal disorders and women's health. Patients will also have access to specialists for the treatment of other conditions which typically overlap with functional bowel disorders such as migraine headaches, interstitial cystitis, and affective disorders. Clinical trials with novel therapeutic agents, including complementary medicine approaches will be offered through the program. In addition, educational programs including monthly lectures, educational materials and computer based clinical information will be available to patients.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Provide comprehensive patient care.
- Offer novel treatment interventions.
- Educate patients and physicians in the area of functional bowel disorders.
- Develop a network with existing UCLA centers and programs dedicated to women's health and integrative medicine.
Center for the Study of Digestive Healthcare Quality and Outcomes
This program is headed by Drs. Ian Gralnek and Gareth Dulai along with Dr. Brennan Spiegel. Today there is an ever-increasing emphasis on the delivery of high-quality, cost effective healthcare. To help meet the ever-changing demands of the healthcare marketplace, the Center for the Study of Digestive Healthcare Quality and Outcomes uses innovative techniques to assess the quality and outcomes of care delivered to patients with digestive and liver diseases. Investigators at this center are helping to provide new knowledge and understanding of how physicians can deliver the highest quality of digestive healthcare, combined with the best patient outcomes research work includes (but is not limited to) studies of patients with functional dyspepsia, IBS, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Moreover, ongoing studies are evaluating the burden of disease and health-related quality of life of patients affected by these disorders.
The primary objectives of the program are to:
- Apply health services research methodologies in the study of functional GI disorders.
- Evaluate structure, process, and outcomes of health care (quality of care) for patients with functional GI disorders.
- Train GI fellows in health services research methodologies/techniques so as to apply to studies involving patients with functional GI disorders.