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/
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
Protocol to characterize longitudinal gut motility in mice using transit time, tissue harvest, and whole-mount immunostaining.
Protocol to characterize longitudinal gut motility in mice using transit time, tissue harvest, and whole-mount immunostaining. STAR Protoc. 2025 Apr 15; 6(2):103761.
PMID: 40238633
Fecal Microbial Profiles and Short-Chain Fatty Acid/Bile Acid Metabolomics in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Pilot Study.
Fecal Microbial Profiles and Short-Chain Fatty Acid/Bile Acid Metabolomics in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Pilot Study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2025 Apr 01; 66(4):21.
PMID: 40202735
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. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 28.
PMID: 39974918
Multiomic analysis reveals cellular, transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in intestinal pouches of ulcerative colitis patients.
Multiomic analysis reveals cellular, transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in intestinal pouches of ulcerative colitis patients. Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 21; 16(1):904.
PMID: 39837850
Multiomic analysis reveals cellular, transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in intestinal pouches of ulcerative colitis patients.
Multiomic analysis reveals cellular, transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in intestinal pouches of ulcerative colitis patients. medRxiv. 2025 Jan 09.
PMID: 38014192
Endoscopic Normalization and Transition of J-Pouch Phenotypes Over Time in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Endoscopic Normalization and Transition of J-Pouch Phenotypes Over Time in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2025 01 06; 31(1):63-71.
PMID: 38916136
Cell-type-resolved chromatin accessibility in the human intestine identifies complex regulatory programs and clarifies genetic associations in Crohn's disease.
Cell-type-resolved chromatin accessibility in the human intestine identifies complex regulatory programs and clarifies genetic associations in Crohn's disease. medRxiv. 2024 Dec 11.
PMID: 39711713
A metagenome-assembled genome inventory for children reveals early-life gut bacteriome and virome dynamics.
A metagenome-assembled genome inventory for children reveals early-life gut bacteriome and virome dynamics. Cell Host Microbe. 2024 Dec 11; 32(12):2212-2230.e8.
PMID: 39591974
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