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A multi modal computational imaging approach towards precision medicine in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis

Award Number: K23DK144660
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

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A multi modal computational imaging approach towards precision medicine in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis - PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal aims to use a multi-modal computational imaging approach to improve risk stratification for medically refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis (MR-ASUC) and investigate the genetic underpinnings of this aggressive UC phenotype. CANDIDATE: Dr. Gu’s long-term goal is to become an independent patient-oriented Clinician Scientist focused on computational imaging methods for translating the heterogenous biology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) into precision medicine strategies. TRAINING PLAN: To achieve this goal, Dr. Gu has devised a rigorous training plan focused on: 1) Computational imaging methods: radiomics and pathomics 2) Artificial intelligence(AI)/machine learning, and 3) Genomics and integration with computational imaging. Dr. Gu will attend PhD courses and receive guidance from a multi-disciplinary mentorship team: 1) Dr. Dermot McGovern, Chair of IBD Genetics and Director of Precision Health Medicine (clinical and scientific expert in IBD and complex disease genetics), 2) Dr. Xiuzhen Huang, Professor of Computational Biomedicine (scientific expert in radiomics), and 3) Dr. Arkadiusz Gertych, Associate Professor of Pathology (scientific expert in pathomics). An interdisciplinary Advisory Committee will also provide guidance during this development period: 1) Dr. Jason Moore (scientific expert in interpretable AI/machine learning) 2) Dr. Avneesh Chhabra (clinical expert in Radiology), and 2) Dr. Kevin Waters (clinical expert in GI pathology). ENVIRONMENT: Cedars-Sinai has a rich tradition of impactful research and deep commitment to developing leaders in gastroenterology. The Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases is ranked #2 in the US by the US News for research and clinical care. Cedars- Sinai is one of the largest IBD centers in the US and houses the largest and longest running IBD biobank (MIRIAD) with over 15,000 phenotyped and genotyped IBD subjects. Thus, Cedars-Sinai is the ideal environment to complete the proposed research. RESEARCH: ASUC is a life-threatening manifestation of UC that can lead to rapid clinical deterioration with 30% of ASUC patients ultimately requiring surgery. Deciding if and when to undergo surgery is a persistent challenge for physicians because delays to surgery increases mortality risk, but current biomarkers (CRP and albumin) predict surgery poorly, in part, because they fail to capture the complex biologic interactions in MR- ASUC. Through extracting high-dimensional features from images, radiomics and pathomics offer innovative solutions by quantifying subtle biological clues that are difficult to detect by the human eye. My central hypothesis is computational imaging biomarkers improve risk stratification for MR-ASUC beyond CRP and albumin and reflect a severe UC endotype that is driven, in part, by genetic variation. My specific aims are: (Aim 1) Comparative evaluation of multi-organ radiomic features versus CRP and albumin for predicting MR-ASUC, (Aim 2) Comparative evaluation of pathomic features versus CRP and albumin for predicting MR- ASUC, and (Aim 3) Determine genetic variants associated with the radiomic and pathomic features of MR-ASUC. The aims will be completed using multi-center ASUC cohorts and resources from the MIRIAD IBD Biobank.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $196,776 )
2026	2026	CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER	8700 BEVERLY BLVD	WEST HOLLYWOOD	CA	90048	LOS ANGELES	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	1	8/21/2026	NEW	$196,776
														Subtotal = $196,776

Grand Total All Awards = $196,776

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A multi modal computational imaging approach towards precision medicine in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis

Award Number: K23DK144660

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2031

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