Research Interests
Dr. Singh’s research interest spans from basic science investigating the mechanisms of barrier dysfunction and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS to clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of novel dietary therapies in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Barrier dysfunction is seen in more than half of patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D). Glutamine is an essential amino acid required to maintain gut barrier function and its synthesis is dysregulated in IBS. Dr. Singh will use the Nancy and Bill Norton Research Award to investigate i) the effect of glutamine synthesis dysregulation on mucosal glutamine levels, barrier dysfunction, and clinical symptoms in patients with IBS-D ii) delineating the role of microbiome in glutamine synthesis dysregulation in IBS-D using validated animal models. This project will help us identify the underlying mechanisms of barrier dysfunction in a subset of patients with IBS-D and also identify the patients most likely to benefit from oral glutamine supplementation as a treatment for their IBS symptoms.
