Gwo-Tzer Ho Research Group

Section: Gastroenterology

Research in a Nutshell

I am interested in the basic question of what triggers and maintains the abnormal inflammatory responses in the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD, Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). Our work is based on mucosal immunity and focuses on several pathways that are especially relevant to the pathogenic processes in IBD.

The laboratory has 3 main areas of interest:

1. The role of gut derived damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) on mucosal immune signalling;
2. Defective intestinal epithelial homeostatic pathways: detoxification, autophagy and metabolism leading to barrier dysfunction, DAMP release and inflammation;
3. The development of biomarkers and new therapeutic targets in IBD focusing on these specific areas. My scientific group is also based at the MRC Centre of Inflammation Research, QMRI, Little France whilst I continue to care for individuals with IBD at the Western General Hospital.

Gwo-Tzer Ho talks about his research in this short video:

Contact

G.Ho@ed.ac.uk

Collaborations

• Professor Balfour Sartor, University of North Carolina
• Professor Nik Morton, University of Edinburgh

Partners and Funders

• Crohn’s and Colitis UK
• Medical Research Society
• Wellcome Trust