As a pediatric surgeon-scientist, I'm dedicated to helping patients with intestinal diseases and obesity. I always wanted to be a physician — caring for children and conducting research focused on strategies to improve the outcomes of those with intestinal failure.
My clinical interests are bariatric surgery and surgery to correct intestinal failure. My clinical work allows me to translate gastrointestinal conditions into the laboratory, where we are working to develop highly innovative approaches for treating intestinal diseases.
In my research lab, I've established a multidisciplinary team dedicated to translational, clinical, and basic science research focused on intestinal diseases. We are characterizing intestinal stem cells during adaptation and are working to develop intestinal regenerative strategies.
I believe that understanding the biology of intestinal stem cells is key to unraveling the mechanisms involved during the disease process. In my lab, we've developed in vitro culture techniques to maintain and expand individual human intestinal stem cells derived from human tissue samples, pluripotent stem cells, and surgical animal models.
I serve as the Director of Surgical Research, Director of the Center for Bariatric Research and Innovation, and Director of the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM). I am board certified in General Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.
BA: Miami University, Oxford, OH, 1987.
MD: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 1993.
MS: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 1989.
Certification: Board-certified General Surgery; board-certified, Pediatric Surgery.
Surgery - general and thoracic; intestinal disorders; surgical weight loss
Surgery - General and Thoracic, Intestinal Disorders, Surgical Weight Loss
Intestinal diseases research
General and Thoracic Surgery
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Chronic Mucosal Inflammation in Pediatric Intestinal Failure Patients-A Unique Phenomenon. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2023; 77:e29-e35.
84: Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Like Findings in Pediatric Intestinal Failure Patients. Transplantation. 2023; 107:50.
1115-P: Advanced Medical Therapy (AMT) for Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)—Early Results from the Run-in Phase of ST2OMP. Diabetes. 2023; 72.
1105-P: Development and Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Clinic Focused on Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes. 2023; 72.
In vivo development of immune tissue in human intestinal organoids transplanted into humanized mice. Nature Biotechnology. 2023; 41:824-831.
Applying patient personalized organoid model system to understand complex GI manifestations in cystic fibrosis disease. Physiology (Bethesda, Md.). 2023; 38:5711443.
Transplanted human intestinal organoids: a resource for modeling human intestinal development. Development (Cambridge). 2023; 150:dev201416.
Marijuana, e-cigarette, and tobacco product use in young adults who underwent pediatric bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2023; 19:512-521.
Use and Accuracy of Intraoperative Frozen Section Analysis for Ovarian Masses in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 2023; 36:155-159.
Thoracoscopy versus thoracotomy for esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: Outcomes from the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2023; 58:27-33.
Michael A. Helmrath, MD5/4/2023
Michael A. Helmrath, MD, James M. Wells, PhD ...2/8/2023
Michael A. Helmrath, MD, James M. Wells, PhD6/30/2019
10/20/2014
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