About K. (Kaushal) Parikh, PhD
Introduction
My group employs basic and translational science to study diseases of the intestine. Our basic research is focused on defining the complex molecular and cellular mechanisms that are involved in inflammation and fibrosis.
On the translational side, we have numerous biomarker discovery programs in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) ongoing. Our focus is on harnessing the power of single cell multi-omic technologies towards clinical application and personalized care in various intestinal diseases.
We have made major discoveries that include identifying a new type of intestinal epithelial cell, BEST4-OTOP2 (Nature 2019). We also showed dysregulation of goblet cells in Ulcerative Colitis, that leads to invasion by commensal bacteria and mucosal inflammation (Nature 2019).
Our study on the intestinal mesenchyme, identified several fibroblast subtypes and defined their contribution to human intestinal development (Cell 2021). Our work also showed how different mesenchymal cells occupy specific anatomical locations, such as crypt, vascular and lymphoid niche cells. We have shown that these niches are dysregulated in colitis and contribute to barrier dysfunction and recruitment and maintenance of inflammatory infiltrates (Cell 2018).
This work has reshaped our understanding of the cellular composition of the human intestine, uncovering novel cell types and cell states intricately linked to both intestinal health and inflammation.
We combine cutting edge genomic (single cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics etc.) and proteomic approaches with highly multiplexed immunohistochemistry (5-plex imaging) to profile large cohorts of patients.
This is complemented by mechanistic studies using in-vitro patient derived organoid models. While the focus is on IBD, we also collaborate extensively to expand our knowledge on other diseases such as Barrett’s Esophagus, Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia.
Our work is generously supported by the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO), Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds (KWF) and a Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant.
Education and career
2003-2004 M.Sc. Biotechnology (cum laude), University of Essex, U.K.
2004-2005 Post-graduate Diploma, Computational Biology, University of Pune, India
2005-2010 Ph.D. Medical Sciences, “Kinome Profiling: methods and applications”, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, The Netherlands
2010-2014 Post-doc Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015-2021 Senior Research Associate, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, U.K.
2021-2023 Marie Curie Fellow, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2023-present Junior Group Leader, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Publications
Top 3 publications
- Parikh, K.*, Antanaviciute, A.*, Fawkner-Corbett, D.*,et al. (2019). Colonic epithelial cell diversity in health and inflammatory bowel disease. Nature 567, 49–55.
- Kinchen, J.*, Chen, H.H.*, Parikh, K.*, et al. (2018). Structural Remodeling of the Human Colonic Mesenchyme in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Cell 175, 372-386.e17.
- Fawkner-Corbett, D.*, Antanaviciute, A.*, Parikh, K.*, et al. (2021). Spatiotemporal analysis of human intestinal development at single-cell resolution. Cell 184, 810-826.e23.
*equal contribution
A full list of my publications can be found at: Kaushal Parikh's Bibliography
