Gastrointestinal Epithelium Modeling (GEM) Program
The Gastrointestinal Epithelium Modeling (GEM) Program is a collaborative research effort designed to accelerate discovery and innovation using patient-derived organoids (PDO). PDOs are tissue samples taken from patients during biopsies or surgical procedures that are then grown and matured in a lab. The PDOs serve as models to help scientists understand how a specific patient may respond to specific drug treatments.
Supported research
The GEM Program supports bi-directional research that includes learnings from the lab and at the bedside to develop new therapies for pediatric gastrointestinal diseases such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE, including the Frontier Program to Transform Personalized Care of Eosinophilic Esophagitis), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Esophageal atresia (EA, including the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center Frontier Program) Hirschsprung disease and celiac disease. In addition to CHOP entities, we work collaboratively with multiple institutions at the University of Pennsylvania, such as the UPenn Digestive and Liver Center and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Meet our team
The GEM Program is co-directed by Amanda Muir, MD, and Kathryn E. Hamilton, PhD, experts in the use of patient-derived organoids. Tatiana Karakasheva, PhD, is the associate director.
Our publications
View highlights of recent publications from the Gastrointestinal Epithelium Modeling Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
News
Stay updated on the latest breakthroughs from the Gastrointestinal Epithelium Modeling (GEM) Program. Our research leverages patient-derived organoids and biopsies to uncover novel disease mechanisms and accelerate personalized therapies for pediatric GI conditions