Sean Colgan Lab
Overview
The Colgan Lab studies mucosal inflammation with focus on intestinal inflammation in the context of inflammatory bowel disease and other GI diseases. Studies are aimed at understanding how epithelial and endothelial cells coordinate barrier function and inflammatory responses at mucosal surfaces. Our lab takes a multifaceted approach by investigating the relationships between gut microbiota, host immune system, genetic background, and environmental influences as it pertains to mucosal health and disease, with research emphasis on energy metabolism, host-microbe interactions, hypoxia-inducible factor, and innate immunity.
Click here for a complete list of published work in Dr. Colgan's Bibliography.
Sean Colgan, Ph.D
Levine-Kern Professor of Medicine and Immunology
Sean Colgan Lab Staff
Ian Cartwright, Ph.D
| A common, but often underappreciated feature of tissue inflammation is the acidification of the inflammatory microenvironment. My research is focused on furthering our understanding of the mechanisms and impact of inflammatory acidosis in the context of inflammatory bowel disease. In our recent research, we have demonstrated that neutrophil transmigration results in significant acidification of the extracellular space and that intestinal epithelial cells cope with this inflammatory acidification through the upregulation of SLC26A3, which promotes pH homeostasis. We are currently actively researching the mechanisms involved in inflammatory acidification and the impact is has on both intestinal epithelial cell function and the microbiota. Notable Press on Ian’s work:https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/could-yogurt-in-diet-help-diagnose-inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-the-future https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-05/ru-eoc051421.php https://www.nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=187337&from=search_list |
Alexander Dowdell, Ph.D
| In the Colgan Lab, I research the interaction between autophagy, the intestinal epithelium, and the gut microbiota. Previous genome-wide association studies have revealed that polymorphisms in autophagy genes confer increased susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis), and that this increased susceptibility is due in part to defects in intestinal epithelial homeostasis. In addition, the gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites have been shown to positively regulate the intestinal epithelium and to protect against intestinal inflammation. My work focuses on better understanding these interactions so as to leverage this knowledge in the development of more effective treatments for inflammatory bowel disease. |
J Scott Lee, Ph.D
| Metabolites across multiple classes are involved in a complex, chemically-mediated crosstalk between the gut microbiota and host tissues. In the Colgan Laboratory I am working to delineate the role of gut microbial and host-derived small molecules in microbiota-host interactions and mucosal innate immunity in health and disease. In this we work to identify new bioactive microbiota-derived compounds and determine their contribution to intestinal homeostasis. In clarifying dysbiotic and inflammatory-induced shifts from intestinal homeostasis we hope to not only further understand the metabolism of disease, but also identify new and innovative therapies for IBD. |
Alfredo Ornelas Sanchez, Ph.D
| We are working on the design and chemical synthesis of novel proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for protein of interest selective degradation. Various PROTACs have been tested in vitro to monitor the degradation of our proteins of interest and their downstream effects. We are investigating potential therapeutic candidates for inflammatory bowel disease through selective protein degradation. |
Geetha Bhagavatula, MD
| Creatine metabolism has a vital role in the cellular energetics of many tissues. In the intestine, it has been shown that proper creatine transport is important for maintaining intestinal barrier function, and that parts of the creatine pathway may be dysregulated in inflammatory bowel disease. My work focuses on understanding the role and regulation of creatine kinase in the intestinal epithelium. |
Caroline Hall, MD, Ph.D
| The Hall lab works in close collaboration with the Colgan Lab due to our similar research focuses. As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I am interested in the role of intestinal barrier and the mucosal environment on human disease. We have focused on the function of the creatine transporter, a key regulator of energetics within the cell. We have found that the creatine transporter is vital to intestinal epithelial barrier function and dysregulated in inflammatory bowel disease. We continue to use a variety of in vitro and in vivo techniques to investigate the basic mechanism of epithelial function as well as working on translational research studies. |
Daniel Kao, MD, Ph.D.
| The Kao lab is focused on the impact of purines on cell metabolism in the context of host-microbe interactions, primarily at mucosal surfaces. The lab also investigates the role of purines on bacterial stress responses and how changes in bacterial metabolism influence bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics. |
Joseph Onyiah, MD
| The Onyiah lab is broadly interested in various approaches to clarify mucosal signaling directed by the innate immune system, in the context of inflammatory bowel disease. A current focus is on the influence of heme-regulated pathways in the colonic mucosa and their influence on inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. We additionally seek to understand the contribution of specific chemokines in recruiting innate immune cells to the intestinal mucosa, and how those cells differentiate based on the local microenvironment. |
Calen Steiner, MD, MS
| The Steiner lab works in close collaboration with the Colgan Lab due to our similar research focuses. As a gastroenterologist and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) specialist, I am interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammation and fibrosis in IBD. We utilize many approaches to investigate these mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo. The ultimate end goal is to discover targets and develop new medical therapies for IBD patients. |
Ji Yeon Kim, Ph.D
| Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is a gastrointestinal disease characterized with a chronic and recurring inflammation. While the precise pathogenesis of IBD remains elusive, dysbiosis-an imbalance of gut microbiota-emerges as a common feature of IBD, accompanied by decreased levels of microbiota-derived metabolites. These metabolites have been implicated in the regulation of the immune response and the maintenance of gut homeostasis. In the Colgan lab, my research focuses on identifying potential microbial-derived metabolites that contribute to maintain intestinal homeostasis during inflammation and elucidating their underlying mechanisms. |
Jake Countess Research Services Professional Sean Colgan Lab |
Jillian Curry Research Services Professional Joseph Oniyah Lab |
Sam Koch Research Services Professional Calen Steiner Lab |
Rane Neuhart Research Services Senior Professional Caroline Hall Lab |
Becki Roer Research Services Professional Alex Dowdell Lab |
Noah Thompson Research Services Professional Daniel Kao Lab |
Nichole Welch Administrator Sean Colgan Lab |
Corey Worledge Research Services Professional Sean Colgan Lab |
Liheng Zhou Research Services Professional Ian Cartwright Lab |
Colgan Lab Contact:
12700 E.19th Ave. B146
Room 10460
Research Complex 2
Aurora, CO 80045
Lab: (720) 724-7249
Colgan Lab Alumni
1994-1996 Gregor B. Zund, MD
1994-1996 Shoichi Uezono, MD
1994-1997 Andrea Dzus, BS
1996-1997 Gary B. Freidman, MD
1996-1998 Elizabeth D. Blume, MD
1995-1998 Steven J. Lisco, MD
1995-1999 Paul F. Lennon, MD
1996-2001 Cormac T. Taylor, PhD
1997-2000 Kristin Synnestvedt, BS
1997-2003 Glenn T. Furuta, MD
1999-2000 Kellie Park, MD, PhD
1999-2001 Katrina Comerford, PhD
1999-2002 Sailaja Narravula, MD
1999-2002 Donald W. Lawrence, PhD
2001-2003 Holger K. Eltzschig, MD
2000-2005 Jorn Karhausen, MD
2002-2004 Jonathon Phillips, PhD
2003-2004 Julio Morote-Garcia, Phd
2000-2006 Nancy Louis, MD
2002-2006 Tianqing Kong, MD
2001-2006 Geraldine Canny, PhD
2002-2006 Juan Ibla, MD
2005-2006 Andreas Robinson, PhD
2005-2006 Joseph Khoury, PhD
2005-2006 Peter Rosenberger, MD
2005-2009 Melanie Scully, PhD
2006-2008 Thomas Weissmueller, MD
2006-2011 Chris MacManus, PhD
2006-2011 Simon Keely, PhD
2006-2008 Karina Irizarry, MD
2008-2010 Jonathan Goldstein, MD
2010-2014 Caleb Kelly, MD, PhD
2011-2013 Stefan Ehrentraut, MD
2005-2010 Eric Campbell, PhD
2007-2012 Louis Glover, PhD
2007-2009 Mark Gerich, MD
2009-2013 Doug Kominsky, PhD
2009-2012 Brittelle Bowers, PhD
2010-2013 Joanne Masterson, PhD
2010-2013 Blair Fennimore, MD
2011-2014 Colm Collins, PhD
2012-2015 Dan Kao, MD, PhD
2013-2014 Kristi Kuhn, MD, PhD
2014-2016 Robert Isfort, MD
2012-2018 Valerie Curtis, PhD
2014-2018 Leon Zheng, MD, PhD
2015-2019 Erica Alexeev, PhD
2016-2018 Carlene Chun, MD
2016-2019 Carrie Hall, MD, PhD
2013-2021 Jordi Lanis, PhD
2016-2021 Ruth Wang, PhD
2017-2021 Rachel Gao, PhD
2018-2023 David Kitzenberg, MD, PhD
2006-2008 Karina Irizarry, MD
2008-2010 Jonathan Goldstein, MD
2010-2014 Caleb Kelly, MD, PhD
2011-2013 Stefan Ehrentraut, MD
2005-2010 Eric Campbell, PhD
2007-2012 Louis Glover, PhD
2007-2009 Mark Gerich, MD
2009-2013 Doug Kominsky, PhD
2009-2012 Brittelle Bowers, PhD
2010-2013 Joanne Masterson, PhD
2010-2013 Blair Fennimore, MD
2011-2014 Colm Collins, PhD
2012-2015 Dan Kao, MD, PhD
2013-2014 Kristi Kuhn, MD, PhD
2014-2016 Robert Isfort, MD
2012-2018 Valerie Curtis, PhD
2014-2018 Leon Zheng, MD, PhD
2015-2019 Erica Alexeev, PhD
2016-2018 Carlene Chun, MD
2016-2019 Carrie Hall, MD, PhD
2013-2021 Jordi Lanis, PhD
2016-2021 Ruth Wang, PhD
2017-2021 Rachel Gao, PhD
2018-2023 David Kitzenberg, MD, PhD
