The goal of the Mayo Clinic Center for Cell Signaling in Gastroenterology (C-SiG) is to connect discovery, translational, and patient-oriented investigators to enhance understanding and therapeutically exploit signaling pathways in gastrointestinal cells to improve the health of patients with digestive diseases. The Research Base consists of 59 scientists and $23 million (direct costs, 70% growth) in digestive disease-related funding. C-SiG members are organized into three Mechanistic Research Themes: 1) Ion channels/membrane receptors; ii) Signal transduction; and, iii) Genetics and gene regulation. Our CENTRAL HYPOTHESIS is that advances in clinical 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. C-SiG's OVERALL SPECIFIC AIMS are to: i) Foster multidisciplinary research by expanding technical and collaborative capabilities of established Gl scientists and attracting investigators from other disciplines; li) Develop and implement a robust Scientific Enrichment Program that includes seminars, workshops, symposia, a visiting faculty program, mini-sabbatical, and Web-based curricula; iii) Offer specialized equipment, technologies, methodologies, reagents, and expertise to assist C-SiG members through the C-SiG Cores, including: a) State-of-the-art microscopic technology and consultative expertise (Optical Microscopy Core); b) Accelerated and expanded biospecimen acquisition, processing, and annotation (Clinical Core); c) Emerging genetic technologies and model systems (Genetics and Model Systems Core); iv) Identify and nurture new GI investigators via a peer-reviewed Pilot and Feasibility Program; v) Promote synergistic interactions between C-SiG members and other Gl investigators at Mayo and at other Gl centers to facilitate clinical trials resulting from the identification of cellular therapeutic targets; vi) Share technologies with other NIDDK centers at Mayo (e.g., PKD Center) and existing Digestive Disease Research Core Centers, especially in the Midwest (i.e.. Midwest DDRCC Alliance).
Gastrointestinal diseases and their complications have a significant effect on public health and health care utilization costs. Research supported by this Center grant, is critically important for furthering understanding of the mechanisms that underlie digestive diseases, which can lead to practical applications for the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring and treatment of human disease.
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