Amar B. Singh, Ph. D

Professional Background

Dr. Singh is a Tenured Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Caner, and Director of IBD Research for the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Motility. He also serves as the Research Career Scientist at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Dr. Singh completed his Ph. D from BHU, a prestigious institute in India and did his post-doctoral training at UAMS, Little Rock and Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he was promoted to the ranks of Assistant Professor. In 2014 he relocated to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and in 2020 he was appointed as tenured full professor position. In October 2024, he accepted the new positions at the KUMC and KCVA.

Research

Overview

Our research program is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) through a comprehensive, clinically relevant, and highly translational approach. We investigate the full spectrum of IBD biology—from improving diagnostic strategies, to defining the molecular mechanisms that drive disease pathophysiology, to developing and testing novel therapeutic interventions.
A major strength of our program is the breadth of models and patient-relevant systems we employ. We work extensively with human-derived materials, including patient intestinal biopsies, intestinal epithelial cells grown in 3D culture, and cutting-edge human intestinal organoids. These enable us to directly study mucosal biology, barrier integrity, immune-epithelial interactions, and host–microbiome dynamics in ways that are highly translatable to human disease.
Our research also leverages advanced microbiome technologies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) into germ-free mice, to dissect the causal role of specific microbial communities in shaping inflammation, disease progression, and mucosal healing. We maintain a large and diverse breeding colony of genetically engineered mouse models—representing key IBD-relevant pathways—allowing us to test mechanistic hypotheses with precision.
A new direction emerging from our VA-funded work adds an innovative dimension to our program: exploring how mental health, stress biology, and the gut microbiome converge to influence IBD via the gut–brain axis. Our models of psychological stress and PTSD in mice, combined with microbiota transfer between genotypes and from human donors, allow us to define how stress-induced microbial and epithelial changes can trigger disease or promote remission.
Together, this integrated platform positions our laboratory at the forefront of IBD research—linking basic discovery to clinical application and ultimately driving the development of more effective, mechanism-based therapies for patients.