About the Gastrointestinal Research Group

The Gastrointestinal Research Group (GIRG), is a dynamic group of basic and clinical investigators, located at The University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, who study the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, pancreas and liver in health and in a variety of important human diseases.   Common diseases of the gut, pancreas and liver include ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acute and chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, viral hepatitis and autoimmune diseases of the liver.  Members of the GI Research Group study the normal functions of the gut, pancreas and liver and aspects of many of the above diseases. The group also carries out clinical trials in the above areas as well as studies on health care delivery and the epidemiology of these disease states.

Our group also runs a training program for graduate students both at the MSc and PhD levels. We also teach medical students, medical residents and have a training program for fellows in
gastroenterology, hepatology and advanced endoscopic techniques.

Funding for our research efforts come from numerous sources including; Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR), Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC), Canadian Liver Foundation and others.