Clinician Scientist, Gastroenterology
Dr. Samuel Asfaha is a clinician scientist who researches intestinal stem cells with the goal of identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer, as well as promoting gut regeneration in inflammatory bowel disease.
Asset Map Keywords: Stem Cell Biology, Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders, and Cancer --> (see more)
Children's Health Collaborators: Kevin Bax, Christopher Pin, and Parisa Shooshtari
Our research focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair as well as regeneration in colitis.
Dr. Asfaha completed his undergraduate training in molecular biology, followed by his Ph.D in mucosal inflammation at the University of Calgary. His clinical training includes his MD degree from the University of Calgary, residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta and his fellowship in Gastroenterology at University of Calgary. Following his clinical training, Dr. Asfaha completed postdoctoral research training at Columbia University in New York City, where he subsequently was promoted to junior faculty as an Instructor in the Division of Digestive &Liver Diseases. While at Columbia University he conducted ground breaking research into the cellular origin of colorectal and gastric cancer.
Dr. Asfaha was recruited to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Institute as an Assistant Professor and Schulich Clinician-scientist. His research is focused on targeting the cellular origin of colorectal cancer and improving tissue repair in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). His expertise and accomplishments are illustrated by numerous national and international awards he has received and his publications.
Clinical Activities
Keywords: general gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer
Description of Clinical Activities: I am a clinician scientist who practices general gastroenterology and have a special interest in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal malignancy.
Research Activities
Keywords: stem cells, inflammation, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases
Description of Research Activities: Our research focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair.
Research Interest Area: Cancer, Gastroinstestinal system, Inflammation and inflammatory disease
Research Overview
My research group focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair.
Keywords: Stem Cells, Colon Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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About Samuel Asfaha
Dr. Samuel Asfaha is a clinician scientist who researches intestinal stem cells with the goal of identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer, as well as promoting gut regeneration in inflammatory bowel disease.
Asset Map Keywords: Stem Cell Biology, Gastrointestinal Diseases and Disorders, and Cancer --> (see more)
Children's Health Collaborators: Kevin Bax, Christopher Pin, and Parisa Shooshtari
Our research focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair as well as regeneration in colitis.
Dr. Asfaha completed his undergraduate training in molecular biology, followed by his Ph.D in mucosal inflammation at the University of Calgary. His clinical training includes his MD degree from the University of Calgary, residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Alberta and his fellowship in Gastroenterology at University of Calgary. Following his clinical training, Dr. Asfaha completed postdoctoral research training at Columbia University in New York City, where he subsequently was promoted to junior faculty as an Instructor in the Division of Digestive &Liver Diseases. While at Columbia University he conducted ground breaking research into the cellular origin of colorectal and gastric cancer.
Dr. Asfaha was recruited to the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Institute as an Assistant Professor and Schulich Clinician-scientist. His research is focused on targeting the cellular origin of colorectal cancer and improving tissue repair in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). His expertise and accomplishments are illustrated by numerous national and international awards he has received and his publications.
Clinical Activities
Keywords: general gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer
Description of Clinical Activities: I am a clinician scientist who practices general gastroenterology and have a special interest in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal malignancy.
Research Activities
Keywords: stem cells, inflammation, colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases
Description of Research Activities: Our research focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair.
Research Interest Area: Cancer, Gastroinstestinal system, Inflammation and inflammatory disease
Research Overview
My research group focuses on identifying the cellular origin of colorectal cancer by characterizing the intestinal and colonic stem cells of the gut. We are focused on understanding the fundamental processes regulating normal and mutated intestinal/colonic stem cells and aim to define the role of these stem cells in tissue regeneration and carcinogenesis. We utilize a range of approaches from transgenic mouse models to in vitro “mini-guts” to elucidate the key pathways important in cancer and tissue repair.
Keywords: Stem Cells, Colon Cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
| Present | Associate Professor, Western University ‐ Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology | |
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| Present | Associate Professor, Western University ‐ Department of Physiology and Pharmacology | |
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| Present | Scientist, Lawson Health Research Institute ‐ Children's Health Research Institute (CHRI) | |
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