Research in the Gastrointestinal Genetics Lab is geared towards a translational application for therapeutic precision in gastroenterology. The team combines leading expertise in genomic, computational and pre-clinical research to identify causative genes and pathogenetic mechanisms influencing gastrointestinal (GI) disease risk and human microbiome composition. The druggable genome and nutrigenetics are also new research lines of high interest, especially in relation to the possibility to treat GI conditions and dysbiosis.

Our current research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), microscopic colitis (MC), gastroparesis (Gp) and other GI diseases is at the scientific forefront in the field, and takes advantage of an extremely large network of international collaboration (>60 research groups and institutions across EU, USA and Australasia).

We serve as analytical hub for several coordinated efforts aimed to exploit big data from large-scale, population-based cohorts and biobanks including more than 1 million people across the world (UK Biobank, LifeLines, EGCUT, Mayo GC, MGI, KPRB, HUNT, FGFP, Genes for Good, TWIBS, PopCol, and many others).

Our research contributes to the activities of multiple consortia including the bellygenes inititative we coordinate on the genetics of IBS, the International IBD Genetics Consortium (IIBDGC), the European Microscopic Colitis Group (EMCG), the Gastroparesis Clinical Research Consortium (NIDDK-GpCRC), the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO), and others.

Research from the Gastrointestinal Genetics Lab has received and receives funding from national and international agencies (Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation, the Basque Government, Swedish Research Council, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, EU-FP7-HEALTH) and the pharma sector (AstraZeneca, Almirall, Medical Need, QOL Medical).