Our Team
We study microbiota-circadian interaction in GI pathogenies, focusing on the colon and pancreas. Our goal is to identify circadian-based prevention and therapeutics in cancer.
Research Faculty:
Faraz Bishehsari, MD, PhD
Director of the Gastroenterology Research Center, Professor, and Vice Chair of Clinical & Translational Research
Director of the Gastroenterology Research Center, Professor, and Vice Chair of Clinical & Translational Research
Xiangsheng Huang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Wankun Deng, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Pooja Shivshankar, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Research Staff:
Luca Santovito
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Luca Santovito, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and postdoctoral researcher with a multidisciplinary background spanning clinical medicine, neuroscience, aging biology, metabolism, and circadian rhythms. After earning his MD from the University of Milan, where he completed a thesis on neuromuscular disorders, he pursued research and clinical training in China, Poland, and the United States. He is currently completing a PhD in collaboration with Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on elucidating how lifestyle and environmental factors shape the molecular and cellular processes that govern health and disease. With a particular emphasis on cancer biology, his work investigates circadian and aging-related mechanisms that influence the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies. By integrating translational research, clinical data, and computational approaches, he seeks to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with patient-centered applications. Luca is committed to a physician-scientist career that integrates innovative research with clinical practice to translate scientific discoveries into refined treatments and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Luca Santovito, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and postdoctoral researcher with a multidisciplinary background spanning clinical medicine, neuroscience, aging biology, metabolism, and circadian rhythms. After earning his MD from the University of Milan, where he completed a thesis on neuromuscular disorders, he pursued research and clinical training in China, Poland, and the United States. He is currently completing a PhD in collaboration with Maastricht University in the Netherlands. His research focuses on elucidating how lifestyle and environmental factors shape the molecular and cellular processes that govern health and disease. With a particular emphasis on cancer biology, his work investigates circadian and aging-related mechanisms that influence the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies. By integrating translational research, clinical data, and computational approaches, he seeks to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with patient-centered applications. Luca is committed to a physician-scientist career that integrates innovative research with clinical practice to translate scientific discoveries into refined treatments and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
Connor Cheek
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Connor Cheek, PhD is a data science postdoctoral fellow in the Gastroenterology Research Center. He received his Ph.D. in Physics in 2023 from the University of Houston, where his research focused on the intersection of behavioral science, genetics, and neuroimaging. His current research interests are in the application of multi-omics and machine learning methods to understand how biological rhythms, gut-brain signaling, and systemic inflammation jointly drive cardiometabolic and metabolic disease risk, with a focus on clinically actionable signals in population-based cohorts and pharmacological applications in cancer. In his free time, he likes to find new coffee shops, walk his dog, and hunt for ghosts.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Connor Cheek, PhD is a data science postdoctoral fellow in the Gastroenterology Research Center. He received his Ph.D. in Physics in 2023 from the University of Houston, where his research focused on the intersection of behavioral science, genetics, and neuroimaging. His current research interests are in the application of multi-omics and machine learning methods to understand how biological rhythms, gut-brain signaling, and systemic inflammation jointly drive cardiometabolic and metabolic disease risk, with a focus on clinically actionable signals in population-based cohorts and pharmacological applications in cancer. In his free time, he likes to find new coffee shops, walk his dog, and hunt for ghosts.
Xuhong Cheng
Research Laboratory Manager
Xuhong Cheng serves as the Research Laboratory Manager at the Gastroenterology Research Center (GRC) in the Department of Internal Medicine at UTHealth Houston. She brings more than 25 years of experience in biomedical and clinical research, laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, and scientific administration. In her current role, she oversees laboratory management, budgeting, procurement, research compliance, and collaborative research support to help ensure the efficient operation of GRC research programs. Prior to joining UTHealth Houston, she held laboratory leadership positions at the University of Houston College of Optometry and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, contributing to research in immunology, cancer biology, and translational medicine. She is also certified as both a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Histotechnologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and is committed to advancing scientific discovery and improving human health through research.
Research Laboratory Manager
Xuhong Cheng serves as the Research Laboratory Manager at the Gastroenterology Research Center (GRC) in the Department of Internal Medicine at UTHealth Houston. She brings more than 25 years of experience in biomedical and clinical research, laboratory operations, regulatory compliance, and scientific administration. In her current role, she oversees laboratory management, budgeting, procurement, research compliance, and collaborative research support to help ensure the efficient operation of GRC research programs. Prior to joining UTHealth Houston, she held laboratory leadership positions at the University of Houston College of Optometry and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, contributing to research in immunology, cancer biology, and translational medicine. She is also certified as both a Medical Laboratory Scientist and Histotechnologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and is committed to advancing scientific discovery and improving human health through research.
Jessica Wang
Research Coordinator
Research Coordinator
Rutviben Shah
Research Coordinator
Rutvi Shah earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in India in 2024, before relocating to Houston to pursue a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Her clinical and research training shaped an enduring interest in prevention and the science behind disease. She currently serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Gastroenterology Research Center, in McGovern Medical School, where she looks after the clinical side of the research primarily supporting circadian microbiome aging study, overseeing the research workflow from participant recruitment through sample processing and data management. Her research interests center on the connection between oral and overall health, viewing the oral cavity as a window into gut health and whole-body wellness. In her spare time, Rutvi enjoys cooking, reading, exploring different cuisines, and learning about other cultures.
Research Coordinator
Rutvi Shah earned her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in India in 2024, before relocating to Houston to pursue a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Her clinical and research training shaped an enduring interest in prevention and the science behind disease. She currently serves as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Gastroenterology Research Center, in McGovern Medical School, where she looks after the clinical side of the research primarily supporting circadian microbiome aging study, overseeing the research workflow from participant recruitment through sample processing and data management. Her research interests center on the connection between oral and overall health, viewing the oral cavity as a window into gut health and whole-body wellness. In her spare time, Rutvi enjoys cooking, reading, exploring different cuisines, and learning about other cultures.
Chi Zhang
Research Associate
Dr. Chi Zhang, MD, PhD, is a Research Associate with a background in biomedical research focused on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). His research investigates the molecular mechanisms linking immune regulation, gut microbiota, metabolic reprogramming, and epigenetic modifications in disease progression. Fun fact: Chi enjoys exploring strategy and storytelling through real-time strategy (RTS) and role-playing (RPG) video games, such as StarCraft and Resident Evil.
Research Associate
Dr. Chi Zhang, MD, PhD, is a Research Associate with a background in biomedical research focused on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). His research investigates the molecular mechanisms linking immune regulation, gut microbiota, metabolic reprogramming, and epigenetic modifications in disease progression. Fun fact: Chi enjoys exploring strategy and storytelling through real-time strategy (RTS) and role-playing (RPG) video games, such as StarCraft and Resident Evil.
Samana Fatima
Research Assistant I
Research Assistant I
Erin Wells
Division Manager
Division Manager
Sommer Durrani
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
Our Students
Ayaan Ansari
University of Houston
University of Houston
Kate Chin
Rice University
Rice University
Priya Verma
Rice University
Rice University