Dr. Chang leads a research group focused on studying intestinal microbes and their interactions with the host. This relationship is fundamental to human health, and its disruption can have profound consequences. Dr. Chang’s work explores how environmental and lifestyle changes over the past century may have altered the human microbiome, contributing to the rise of “new age” disorders such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. In genetically susceptible individuals, these shifts can disrupt immune and metabolic homeostasis, potentially triggering the onset of disease.
The Chang Lab is dedicated to understanding the factors that influence the selection and assembly of intestinal microbial communities, with the goal of harnessing this knowledge to reshape the enteric microbiome for disease prevention and treatment. The team employs cutting-edge approaches, including cultivation-dependent and -independent microbial analysis, genetically modified and gnotobiotic mouse models, metabolic and functional profiling, and advanced bioinformatics to investigate both the host and the microbiome.
For more information, visit the laboratory website: http://changlab.uchicago.edu/
Emerging concepts and shifting paradigms for understanding the microbial basis of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Emerging concepts and shifting paradigms for understanding the microbial basis of inflammatory bowel diseases. J Clin Invest. 2025 Sep 02; 135(17).
PMID: 40892512
A prometabolite strategy inhibits cardiometabolic disease in an ApoE-/- murine model of atherosclerosis.
A prometabolite strategy inhibits cardiometabolic disease in an ApoE-/- murine model of atherosclerosis. JCI Insight. 2025 Aug 08; 10(15).
PMID: 40779455
NFAT5 dictates crosstalk between intestinal epithelial regenerative capacity and microbiota in murine colitis models.
NFAT5 dictates crosstalk between intestinal epithelial regenerative capacity and microbiota in murine colitis models. J Clin Invest. 2025 Sep 16; 135(18).
PMID: 40663408
Relationship Between Third-Trimester Low Maternal Blood Pressure and Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth Weight in Pregnant Individuals With Mild Chronic Hypertension.
Relationship Between Third-Trimester Low Maternal Blood Pressure and Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth Weight in Pregnant Individuals With Mild Chronic Hypertension. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jul 10; 146(3):405-412.
PMID: 40638923
Complement Modulation Mitigates Inflammation-Mediated Preterm Birth and Fetal Neural Inflammation.
Complement Modulation Mitigates Inflammation-Mediated Preterm Birth and Fetal Neural Inflammation. Cells. 2025 Jul 08; 14(14).
PMID: 40710297
Reference Range Determination for the sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio in a Diverse Cohort of Pregnant Women in the United States.
Reference Range Determination for the sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio in a Diverse Cohort of Pregnant Women in the United States. J Appl Lab Med. 2025 Jul 01; 10(4):937-948.
PMID: 40331345
Histopathologic Evaluation and Single-cell Spatial Transcriptomics of the Colon Reveal Cellular and Molecular Abnormalities Linked to J-Pouch Failure in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Histopathologic Evaluation and Single-cell Spatial Transcriptomics of the Colon Reveal Cellular and Molecular Abnormalities Linked to J-Pouch Failure in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025; 19(10):101563.
PMID: 40571096
Microbiome mismatches from microbiota transplants lead to persistent off-target metabolic and immunomodulatory effects.
Microbiome mismatches from microbiota transplants lead to persistent off-target metabolic and immunomodulatory effects. Cell. 2025 Jul 24; 188(15):3927-3941.e13.
PMID: 40482640
Assessing the health of the gut microbial organ: why and how?
Assessing the health of the gut microbial organ: why and how? J Clin Invest. 2025 Jun 02; 135(11).
PMID: 40454478
A randomized controlled trial adding behavioral counseling to supervised physical activity in people living with and beyond cancer (BOOST-UP-): a study protocol for a live remotely-delivered behavior change intervention.
A randomized controlled trial adding behavioral counseling to supervised physical activity in people living with and beyond cancer (BOOST-UP-): a study protocol for a live remotely-delivered behavior change intervention. BMC Cancer. 2025 May 09; 25(1):847.
PMID: 40346460
Takeda Distinguished Scientist Award
Takeda, Inc.
2014
National Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Advisory Council
National Institutes of Health
2013 - 2017
AGA Outstanding Mentorship award
American Gastroenterological Association
2013
AGA Academy of Educators
American Gastroenterological Association
2013
NIH Merit Award
National Institutes of Health
2008 - 2018