- Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory
- Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory
- Bioinformatics Laboratory
Head of the Laboratory: Prof. Dr. Jurgita Skiecevičienė.
The Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory of the Institute for Digestive Research at LSMU works closely with the Department of Gastroenterology of the LSMU Kaunas Clinics, conducts research together with medical specialists, and is a functional research unit of the Department of Gastroenterology.
The vision and mission of the Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory: enabling of the fundamental research in the clinical practice, digestive system, and liver disease.
The Laboratory employs not only the nationally but also internationally renowned researchers who convey practical and theoretical skills to young researchers and doctoral students.
Main research fields of the Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory:
- Epidemiological, genetic, genomic, clinical research of inflammatory intestinal diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease)
- Epidemiological, microbiological, genetic, clinical research of related diseases to pylori infection – gastritis, ulcers, gastric cancer
- Clinical and genetic studies of rare diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver (Wilson’s disease, hemochromatosis, Budd-Chiari syndrome and other rare diseases
- Studies on the pathogenesis of pre-neoplastic and gastrointestinal diseases
- Human gut microbiome research, twin microbiome research
- Preclinical studies on the pathogenesis of digestive system diseases
The Laboratory employs highly qualified geneticists, molecular biologists, bioinformatics and gastroenterologists who have published more than 140 articles (including more than 60 articles published in CA WoS journals with an Impact Factor) including: Lancet (2016, IF-47,8), Nature (2012, IF-40,1), Nature Genetics (2016- 2014, 2011- 2009, IF-31,6), Gastroenterology (2013, 2011, 2005, IF-18,3), Gut (2018, 2013, 2006, IF-16,6), Nature Structural and Molecular Biology (2016, IF-13,3), Nucleic Acid Research (2017, IF-10,12), Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (2013, IF-4,4.5), and other journals. These articles have been cited more than 1600 times in CA WoS database journals (total h-index of the Laboratory researchers is 17).
The laboratory is equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment for molecular and genetic research. The laboratory cooperates closely with the LSMU Department of Gastroenterology and acts as its functional research unit. For more details on the research projects and publications of the Laboratory, please see the information here.
Services provided:
- DNA or RNA extraction, concentration measurement
- Gene polymorphism analysis by real-time PCR
- Gene expression analysis by real-time PCR
- ELISA assay
- Immunoblotting tests; total protein content test
- Cell culture modification
- Supervision and management of research
For prices and quantities of services, please contact Prof. Jurgita Skiecevičienė, Head of the Clinical and Molecular Laboratory, at jurgita.skieceviciene@lsmu.lt.
Head of the Laboratory: Prof. Dr. Antanas Gulbinas.
The Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory of the Institute for Digestive Research of LSMU closely cooperates with the Department of Surgery of LSMU and acts as its functional research unit. The mission of the Laboratory: conducting and developing molecular and clinical research of tumourous and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system. The laboratory employs experienced scientists who have mastered the necessary equipment for the study of protein expression, epigenetic mechanisms and mRNA-level gene expression, cell culture experiments.
Main research fields of the Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory:
- Influence of the pathogenesis of tumorous diseases of the digestive system, complications and treatment tactics on the disease course and outcome
- Influence of peculiarities, complications and treatment tactics of acute and chronic pancreatitis pathogenesis on the disease course and outcome
Projects funded by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation (LSSSF) and the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL):
- Project “NAVIKAS” for the development of the priority research areas conducted in 2005–2006 (funded by the LSSSF)
- Project “Investigation and computer modelling of the biological response to the thermal effects of radiofrequency ablation” (No. P-02/2007) conducted in 2007–2009 (initiated by the LSSSF)
- Project “Studies on pancreatic stellate cell activity and redox status” (No. LIG 12/2012) conducted in 2012–2014 (funded by the Chronic Non-Infectious Diseases Programme of the RCL)
- Ongoing project “Energetic, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of pancreatic adenocarcinoma resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy”, No. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-02-062 since 2013 (funded by the Human Resources Development Action Programme
Other projects:
- Study of the expression of genes regulating the inflammatory response and leukocyte adhesion and evaluation of the activity of inflammation modulatory molecules in acute pancreatitis
- Investigation of the influence of the protective HO-1 gene polymorphism on the course and outcome of acute pancreatitis
- Investigation of the alterations of oxidative stress molecule expression in acute pancreatitis and calcium signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction in acute pancreatitis
- Study of epigenetic alterations in pancreatic, gastric and periampullary cancer (DNA hypermethylation study of tumour suppressor genes; DNA hypomethylation study of genomic nucleotide sequences; study of the role of DNA methyltransferase polymorphisms in cancer pathogenesis)
- Investigation of the role of CUGBP2 in the pathogenesis of pancreatic and gastric cancer and the association of these alterations with the Cox-2 chain
- Investigation of the influence of anti-inflammatory factor AF in reducing the inflammatory process and adhesion formation in experimental peritonitis
Publications by our researchers:
Head of the Laboratory: Acting Prof. Habil. Dr. Limas Kupčinskas.
The vision of the Laboratory is to systematise, simplify, and transform large-scale molecular data, including human genome, transcriptome, and microbiome sequencing, along with phenotypic, clinical, and behavioural data, and applies them to a variety of clinical problems (search for disease biomarkers, individual predictive models, etc.).
Main research fields of the Bioinformatics Laboratory:
- Integration of different -omics and phenotypic data and search for biomarkers
- Personalized medicine – development of individual diagnostic and prognostic models
- Development of new analytical algorithms to adapt bioinformatics to the challenges of research and information technology infrastructures