Since 2015 DHF has raised more than $23 million and has funded 89 innovative research studies that are changing the future of digestive health.

DHF Digestive Health Medical Forum – Wednesday, September 4, 2024

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Governor Pritzker Proclaims May 2024 National Digestive Disease Awareness Month

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared May 2024 National Digestive Disease Awareness Month in Illinois and recognized DHF for its efforts to positively change the landscape of digestive health. View the proclamation...

Digestive Health Foundation Raises Over $4 Million at 2024 Gala, Announces New Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

CHICAGO (May 22, 2024) – The 2024 Digestive Health Foundation Gala raised over $4 million to support the establishment of the Northwestern Medicine Hanauer Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, a major new initiative that was announced at the May 11 event at the Four...

Digestive Health Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital Ranked #7 in U.S. News and World Report Hospital Rankings 2022-2023!

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Our investments in groundbreaking medical research are already changing lives. From software that empowers adolescents in their transition to adult care to an innovative esophageal endoscopy technique, our exciting research is making a difference for patients and families living with digestive disease. Read more HERE.

Our Research

How Does Inflammation Increase the Risk of Cancer in Intestinal Tissues?

Normally immune cells like neutrophils protect our body against invading pathogens but sometimes they go ...

Does Cannabis Reduce Symptoms or Inflammation in Patients with IBD?

Medical marijuana’s popularity has grown as a treatment for tamping down the debilitating effects of ...

How to Optimize Control of Acid Reflux to Reduce the Risk of Cancers in Barrett’s Esophagus

Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) occurs when damaging acid reflux causes the lining of the esophagus to ...

Molecular Profiling and Associations with Clinical Phenotypes in Adult Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a common cause for swallowing problems (dysphagia) in adults. Resulting in ...

The Digestive Health Foundation became a founding supporter in 2017 of a powerful new resource ...

Developing Ways to Reduce Inappropriate Use of (Leftover) Narcotics Prescribed for Patients Undergoing Bowel Surgery

A surplus of prescription pain killers continues to fuel the drug crisis in America. The ...

Can We Improve Lung Function in Cystic Fibrosis by Treating Constipation?

Does constipation cause breathing problems? In some individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder ...

Developing Laboratory Markers to Predict Recurrence of Fatty Liver after Liver Transplantation

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with obesity and a few other conditions, and ...

How to Improve the Use of Lidocaine to Reduce Pain for Patients Undergoing Intestinal Surgery

Intravenously-injected lidocaine, a numbing agent, provides pain relief without the side effects of narcotic pain ...

Can we Improve Doctors' Colonoscopy Skills with a “Report Card”?

Skills matter when it comes to screening colonoscopies for colon cancer. Some doctors are better ...

Can We Use Therapeutic Monitoring of Drug Levels to Improve Long-Term Control of Patients Treated with Infliximab (Remicade) in IBD?

The drug infliximab (Remicade) offers relief to millions of people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative ...

Developing Video-Based Education to Improve Patient Completion of Colorectal Cancer Screening

Screening colonoscopies have been credited with turning the tide against colorectal cancer—the second leading cause ...

Our Science Advisory Council

Dr. Hanauer is Immediate Past President of the American College of Gastroenterology and founding co-director of the Digestive Health Center.

Stephen B. Hanauer, MD

Read his full profile

Dr. John Pandolfino is a Professor of Medicine, as well as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine.

John E. Pandolfino, MD

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Dr. Strong is founding co-director of the Digestive Health Center. His practice focuses on colon and rectal cancer, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and minimally invasive surgery.

Scott A. Strong, MD

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