Elena Verdú

I am interested in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory disorders such as celiac disease. I am also investigating host-bacterial interactions in particular in the context of probiotics and functional gastrointestinal diseases.

Focus
The main focus of research is the pathophysiology of inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal disorders, and the role of host-microbial and dietary interactions. Work in my lab deals with the way commensal bacteria and food components can affect susceptibility to disease such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease. We have demonstrated that gut dysfunction can be triggered by gluten in mice, even in the absence of enteropathy, leading to the concept of non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity may constitute one possible cause of irritable bowel syndrome that could be treated by a gluten-free diet or adjuvant therapies to gluten exclusion. Clinical trials are currently being conducted to functionally characterize these patients and identify mechanisms of gluten sensitivity in humans. We are also working on the preclinical development of several adjuvant therapies to a gluten-free diet.