Jatin Roper

Jatin Roper is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, and Cell Biology at Duke University School of Medicine, where he has been conducting research since 2019. His work focuses on gastrointestinal biology and disease within the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD).

• University: Duke University
• School: School of Medicine
• Department: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology
• Research Focus: Clinical/Translational Research

Dr. Roper's research centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial homeostasis in injury, repair, and cancer initiation. His laboratory investigates how obesity impacts intestinal stem cell function and cancer initiation, with particular emphasis on developing novel mouse models using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and organoid transplantation to model gastrointestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer. In collaboration with Aviv Regev's group at the Broad Institute, he co-led a project investigating cellular heterogeneity in colorectal cancer, identifying three cellular neighborhood archetypes associated with tumor progression: inflammatory epithelial regions, epithelial stem-like regions, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition regions with dysplastic cells.

Analysis of Dr. Roper's publication trends reveals a strong focus on the intersection of metabolism and colorectal cancer, with particular emphasis on dietary factors (high-fat diet, high-fructose corn syrup), stem cell biology, and molecular mechanisms of cancer initiation. His work consistently employs advanced techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and organoid models to investigate cancer progression and tumor microenvironment dynamics.

• NCI R37 award for studying mechanisms of obesity-associated colorectal carcinogenesis

Dr. Roper's research is supported by significant grants including an NCI R37 award to study obesity-associated colorectal carcinogenesis. His collaborative work spans multiple institutions including MIT, the Broad Institute, and various Duke University departments. His laboratory utilizes cutting-edge approaches in genome editing, organoid culture, and single-cell analysis to investigate cancer biology.

His research group maintains close connections with the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, collaborating with researchers such as Gonzalez, Rawls, and Sullivan to advance understanding of gastrointestinal diseases and cancer mechanisms.