Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh

06/30/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Ravy Vajravelu on his new role as GI Fellowship Program Director!

Dr. Vajravelu is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and a staff gastroenterologist at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
As a clinician, he cares for patients with conditions ranging from GERD to GI bleeding and performs endoscopy and colonoscopy for cancer screening. As a researcher, he leads the PEGi Lab, using big data and biostatistical methods to improve GI disease diagnosis and treatment. His work has been published in journals such as Gastroenterology, Annals of Internal Medicine, and JAMA Internal Medicine. His laboratory is funded by the NIH and gastroenterology professional societies. He's also a longtime mentor to medical trainees, known for teaching consensus guidelines and helping trainees navigate gaps in the literature.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Vajravelu on this well-earned appointment!
As we celebrate this new chapter, we also want to pause and recognize the one who came before. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Ken Fasanella, who has led the GI Fellowship Program with dedication and care for the past 14 years. Under his leadership, countless fellows were trained and mentored, and his legacy will continue to shape the program for years to come. Thank you, Ken, for your years of service and commitment to our trainees.

06/08/2026

Proud to highlight the work of our colleague Dr. Vladimir Lamm, co-founder of Edulis Therapeutics, featured this month in GI & Hepatology News.
Edulis is developing a bioresorbable, endoscopically-delivered drug depot placed during a routine scope that releases medication locally for up to 12 months before resorbing completely.
The team just won both the AGA Tech Summit and DDW® Shark Tank competitions.
Congratulations, Vlad, we're excited to watch this unfold!
Full article in GI & Hepatology News:

Proud to highlight the work of our colleague Dr. Vladimir Lamm, co-founder of Edulis Therapeutics, featured this month in GI & Hepatology News. Edulis is developing a bioresorbable, endoscopically-delivered drug depot placed during a routine scope that releases medication locally for up to 12 months...

06/05/2026

05/01/2026

So incredibly proud of our distinguished faculty and fellows! Congratulations on a great showing at Digestive Disorder Week in Chicago.

04/13/2026

Why do NSAIDs make Crohn's disease worse? We may finally have the answer.
For years, IBD doctors have told patients: "Stay away from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen." But the explanation has always been a little unsatisfying, stating something about irritation of the gastrointestinal tract lining.
New research from the University of Pittsburgh, just accepted in Nature Communications, offers a much deeper reason.
NSAIDs work by blocking a chemical called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In most situations, that's a good thing as it reduces pain and swelling. But in patients with IBD, PGE2 is actually acting as a brake on the immune system, calming down the T cells responsible for chronic gut inflammation.
When NSAIDs block PGE2, they accidentally release that brake, and the immune system flares.
The study also found that the genetic risk variants for IBD cluster in exactly the DNA regions that PGE2 regulates, meaning the genetics and the cell biology are telling the same story.
See the article by our Pitt Gastroenterology team here: https://lnkd.in/efsdyZAJ

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04/02/2026

Big news from our team at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.
Researchers here have developed a test called BiliSeq that is changing the game for patients with bile duct cancer — one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose. Because these tumors are small, hard to reach, and easily mistaken for inflammation, standard tests miss cancer in more than half of cases. That means delayed treatment, more invasive procedures, and fewer options for patients.
BiliSeq is changing that. In a six-year study of more than 2,000 patients across the U.S., this molecular test nearly doubled detection rates — and when paired with standard testing, caught cancer in nearly 90% of cases. Even better, it identified specific genetic mutations in 1 in 5 patients that helped doctors personalize their treatment plan.
For patients, that means faster answers, less uncertainty, and more hope.
🔗 Read the full story: https://www.upmc.com/media/news/032726-biliseq