Dr. Alison Simmons

Our work has provided insight into human intestinal immunity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis. We redefined the cellular anatomy of the human intestine identifying new cell types and states linked to intestinal health or inflammation. We identified a new epithelial cell type and defects in goblet cells in severe ulcerative colitis including dysregulation of a goblet cell expressed anti-microbial factor that prevents invasion by commensal bacteria and mucosal inflammation