Coates Lab

Research Topics and Current Projects

The Penn State Gastroenterology Data Registry and Biobank

Our laboratory serves as the “home base” for this important initiative whose primary mission is focused on providing better care to individuals suffering from digestive diseases through the development and implementation of innovative biomedical research. We recruit individuals who receive care in our clinics to participate in this project. Study participants provide health-related information (via interviews and surveys) and/or biological specimens ranging from gastrointestinal biopsy samples to blood, sputum, urine and/or stool (all during routine, scheduled care visits). As a result, we are able to undertake high quality, novel investigations evaluating essentially any gastrointestinal disorder (including irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, celiac disease and the inflammatory bowel diseases).

The Role of Sodium Channels in Silent Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Other Disorders of Visceral Sensitivity

Silent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common and poorly understood phenomenon associated with serious complications and increased healthcare resource utilization. We received a NIH (NIDDK) R01 award to examine the potential role that the voltage-gated sodium channel, NaV1.8, and the functionally relevant, associated polymorphism, rs6795970, play in this condition (link to story about this award). As part of this investigation, we are genotyping study participants and assessing pain experience using special surveys and objective assessments of pain perception (including quantitative somatosensory and visceral sensory testing techniques). Findings from this research will be used to develop more objective diagnostic tools to identify patients at risk for silent IBD, and new management strategies to help individuals suffering with disorders associated with altered abdominal pain perception.

The Influence of Intestinal Serotonin Signaling on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Disorders of Visceral Sensitivity

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is frequently associated with chronic abdominal pain, including during quiescent phases of these disorders. We are examining the potential role that serotonin has in the generation of this pain in IBD along with other gastrointestinal disorders associated with chronic abdominal pain. In order to do this, we are evaluating each major component of serotonin signaling in the intestinal tract in carefully characterized patient populations. Our hope is that the findings of these studies could be used to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic tools to help patients with inflammatory bowel disease and other disorders associated with chronic abdominal pain.

The Impact of Cannabis and Its Derivatives on IBD and Its Symptoms

Cannabis has demonstrated analgesic properties in animal models of enterocolitis and in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) studies, but it is unclear which component(s) is/are responsible for these effects. In coordination with Drs. Kent Vrana and Wesley Raup-Konsavage in the Penn State College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, we are undertaking studies designed to investigate the role of non-euphorigenic cannabis components in visceral nociception in order to identify potential new targets and therapies to manage abdominal pain in IBD and other related disorders.

Examining the Causes and Costs of Abdominal Pain and Other Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In addition to the laboratory-based research projects described above, Dr. Coates is involved in a broad number of clinical research projects focused on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with a particular focus on abdominal pain in this setting. Utilizing the database described above, Dr. Coates and his colleagues have investigated a wide array of issues related to IBD. A list of his publications related to these topics can be found here.