About the Laboratory

The Chen Lab at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is dedicated to advancing gastroenterology research with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease, the gut microbiome, and translational medicine. Our work aims to better understand how microbiome dynamics, immune responses, and clinical factors shape disease development, progression, and treatment outcomes. By combining patient-centered care with innovative research, we strive to translate scientific discoveries into improved diagnostic tools, personalized therapies, and better long-term outcomes for patients with digestive diseases. Through collaboration, mentorship, and a commitment to discovery, our lab works to bridge the gap between research and clinical care.

LAC LAB Select Publications

  • Elmassry MM, Sugihara K, Chankhamjon P, Camacho FR, Wang S, Sugimoto Y, Chatterjee S, Chen LA, Kamada N, Donia MS. A meta-analysis of the gut microbiome in IBD patients identifies disease-associated small molecules. Cell Host Microbe, 33(2), 218-234. e12, 2025. PMCID: PMC10871352.

  • Aldrian D, Pollio A, Mayerhofer C, Diederen K, Jacobs JP, Pai N, Szamosi JC, Turner D, Del Chierico F, Cardile S, Grigoryan Z, Chen LA, Hurych J, Cinek O, Taddei CR, Schwerd T, Wine E, Griffiths AM, Müller T, Vogel GF. Fecal Microbial Community profiling allows discrimination of therapy response in pediatric Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis – An International Meta-analysis. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 31(9):2338-2351, 2025. PMID: 40583454.

  • Khalessi A, Crowe BR, Xia Y, Rubinfeld G, Baylor J, Radin A, Liang PS, Chen LA. Race and immigration status impact manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. Gastro Hep Advances, 3(3):326-332, 2024.  PMCID:11101196.

  • Boyle K, Freeman S, Li D, Haritunians T, McGovern D, Chen LA. Crohn’s disease polygenic risk score is associated with IBD-Serologies in pediatric CD inception cohort. To be presented at 2026 Digestive Disease Week, Chicago, IL. May 2026. 

  • Zezos S, Chen R, Bushra M, Li Q, Garcia O, Li D, Chen LA. Association Between Crohn’s Disease Polygenic Risk Score and Gut Microbiome in Healthy First-Degree Relatives. Presented at the 2026 Canadian Digestive Diseases Week (CDDW), Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, Toronto, ON, Feb–Mar 2026.

  • Rizwan S, Shen J, Cataldo S, Kundu T, Bush A, Chen LA. Diversity loss drives early colitis in a high genetic risk Crohn’s disease murine model. Presented at the 2026 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, Las Vegas, NV, Jan 2026.

Want To See More of LAC Lab’s Work?

Click Here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1HYAd7QbVqO5w/bibliography/public/