The Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease


 

Journal Covers 2018-April 2020

Featured JRI Covers from Science Immunology, October 2019; Immunity, April 14, 2020; Cell Host & Microbe, December 12, 2018 and May 13, 2020.

Svetlana working at the bench

A postdoctoral scientist working at the lab bench.

Chris Parkhurst cortical neuron cultured from the early postnatal mouse brain

A cortical neuron cultured from the early postnatal brain, stained for the neuron specific marker Tuj1 (green) along with excitatory synaptic marker GLUT1 (blue) and the inhibitory synaptic marker Gephyrin (red). Image courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Christopher Parkhurst

Mai at bench preparing for PCR

A lab technician processing tissue samples at the lab bench to run a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is a technique used to amplify a segment of DNA of interest by producing lots and lots of copies.

Chris Parkhurst Mouse meninges whole mount preparation stained

Meninges whole mount preparation stained for nuclei (DAPI), Tuj1 (green), or CD45 (red). Image courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Christopher Parkhurst

Nick and Samah working on experiment design at white board

Two lab members working on experiment design.

IL-33 in intestinal epithelial cells Artis lab

Immunostaining of the small intestine of a transgenic mouse expressing the cytokine interleukin 33
(IL-33; green) in the nuclei (blue) of intestinal epithelial cells (purple). Stromal cells stained red.
Interleukin-33 is a protein released from damaged or infected cells, initiating type 2 immune
responses. Image courtesy of Drs. Tanel Mahlakõiv and David Artis.

Immune Cells Heal the Intestine by Controlling Iron Sonnenberg Lab

Color-enhanced images of the large intestine from a mouse that has repaired following injury (left) and the large intestine from a mouse lacking hepcidin that was unable to repair (right). Image credit: Drs. Nicholas J. Bessman and Gregory Sonnenberg.

Artistic rendering of a tumor growing within a colon

Artistic rendering of a tumor growing within a colon, resulting in local alterations of resident microbiota. Artist/Image Source: Sarah Field Sonnenberg

Mucus Inflammed Lung Tissue Artis

Mucus production (red) in the lung under inflammatory conditions. Picture courtesy of Drs. David Artis and Saya Moriyama.

The Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Advancing Discovery. Transforming Our Understanding of Inflammatory Disease.

Welcome to the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

At the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (JRI) at Weill Cornell Medicine, we are dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and transforming our understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related inflammatory disorders.

Through innovative basic and translational research, our investigators explore the complex interactions among the immune system, the microbiome, and the environment that influence health and disease. By bringing together expertise in immunology, microbiology, gastroenterology, and related disciplines, the Institute fosters a collaborative research environment that bridges fundamental discoveries with their potential clinical applications.

Our mission is to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, inspire the next generation of researchers, and contribute to the development of more effective strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Explore our research, meet our investigators, and discover how collaboration and scientific innovation are shaping the future of IBD research.

The Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease is pleased to introduce Iliyan D. Iliev, PhD, as Interim Director.

Dr. Iliev is a Professor of Immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an internationally recognized investigator whose research explores the complex relationships among the microbiome, the immune system, and inflammatory disease.

Since establishing his laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine in 2014, Dr. Iliev has built a multidisciplinary research program focused on understanding how fungi and other microorganisms interact with the immune system and contribute to intestinal health, inflammation, and disease.

His work brings together immunology, microbiology, computational biology, and clinical research, reflecting the collaborative scientific approach central to the Institute's mission.

As Interim Director, Dr. Iliev brings extensive scientific expertise and a commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting investigators, and advancing innovative research that deepens our understanding of IBD and related inflammatory conditions.

Learn more about Dr. Iliev's research and laboratory at Iliev Lab.

Our History & Legacy

The Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (JRI) was established at Weill Cornell Medicine through the generous philanthropy of Jill Roberts, with a vision to advance innovative research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related immune-mediated disorders.

Under the founding leadership of David Artis, PhD, the Institute established a strong foundation of scientific excellence, bringing together investigators from diverse disciplines to address fundamental questions in mucosal immunology, host-microbiome interactions, and inflammatory disease.

Since its inception, JRI has cultivated a collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment, supported by innovative research programs, state-of-the-art core facilities, and investigator-driven scientific initiatives. These efforts have helped advance our understanding of the complex biological mechanisms underlying intestinal health and disease.

Building upon this foundation, the Institute remains committed to fostering scientific discovery, interdisciplinary collaboration, and translational research that may lead to improved approaches for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

JRC

Iliyan D. Iliev, PhD

Interim Director,

Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease