Mayo Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology

PROJECT SUMMARY The overall objective of the Mayo Clinic Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology (C-SiG) is to improve the health of patients with digestive diseases. We do this by facilitating discovery-translation-application paradigms driven by mechanistic insights, cell signaling pathways, cellular networks, and spatial biology of gastrointestinal tissue. C-SiG provides a robust infrastructure supporting technological advances, thematic platforms, and career development opportunities leading to the integration of diverse expertise and impactful discovery and translational science. Our Research Base consists of 59 scientists (16% increase since the center was founded in 2009) involving 15 departments/divisions and $22 million direct costs (64% growth since center was founded in 2009) in digestive diseases-related funding (47% from NIDDK). Responding to members’ evolving interests and scientific advances, we’ve realigned members into three interconnected Mechanistic Research Themes (cellular networks, intracellular signaling, and genetics/epigenetics), each intersecting with three Disease Focus Groups (liver pathobiology, dysmotility/metabolism, inflammation/transformation), a matrix that fosters both discovery and disease relevant investigation. Our ongoing CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS is that advances in care of patients with digestive diseases requires a facilitative infrastructure supporting meaningful interactions among multidisciplinary scientists investigating cellular mechanisms, pathways, and therapeutic targets to enhance rapid translation of basic discoveries into clinical trials. Our OVERALL SPECIFIC AIMS are to: i) Foster multidisciplinary research by integrating a diverse group of clinical and basic science investigators in a team- based approach to advancing knowledge and technical capabilities; ii) Offer access to cutting-edge, specialized technologies, resources and skilled technical expertise through core services (Microscopy and Microfluidics, Epigenomics and Spatial Biology, and Clinical Cores), with continually evolving service options and quality and project management oversight in response to member feedback; iii) Create opportunities to engage and nurture new GI investigators via a peer-reviewed Pilot and Feasibility (P/F) Program including structured mentorship, career development retreats, curricula, and structured (30/42, 71% of P/F recipients achieving federal funding); iv) Support a robust Enrichment Program facilitating collaboration and technology transfer; and v) Promote interactions between C-SiG with Mayo institutional partners (e.g., Center for Individualized Medicine) and existing DDRCCs, especially in the Midwest (i.e., Midwest DDRCC Alliance). Our global efforts have resulted in 160 manuscripts, with 46% percent intra- and 54% inter-thematic publications (77% involving ≥ 2 members). Importantly, we’ve made critical advances in understanding disease pathogenesis relevant to cellular networks, signal transduction, and genetics/epigenetics as evident by the academic and translational achievements of our research base.