Amanda Ziegler

Amanda Ziegler, DVM, PhD is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at North Carolina State University. She leads the Comparative Gastroenterology Lab, focusing on intestinal barrier repair mechanisms, particularly in neonatal and juvenile large animal models. Her work bridges veterinary medicine, gastroenterology, and developmental biology to understand intestinal wound healing processes.

Dr. Ziegler's primary research interests center on gastrointestinal biology and disease, with specific focus on:

• Intestinal barrier repair and restitution mechanisms
• Enteric nervous system development and function
• Neonatal intestinal development and repair
• Large animal models (particularly porcine) for translational research
• Comparative gastroenterology across species
• Intestinal wound healing following ischemic injury

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on molecular mechanisms of intestinal repair, particularly examining the role of enteric glial cells in regulating epithelial restitution. She has pioneered the use of single-cell transcriptomics to compare pig and human epithelial phenotypes, identifying a "restitution/hybrid EMT phenotype." Her work increasingly incorporates microbiome research, prebiotic interventions, and comparative approaches across species to understand fundamental mechanisms of intestinal healing.

Dr. Ziegler has received notable recognition including a K01 award and the CGIBD Pilot and Feasibility Award in 2018. Her research has been supported by grants focused on understanding intestinal barrier repair in early life.

As principal investigator of the Comparative Gastroenterology Lab, Dr. Ziegler leads research investigating how the developing enteric glial cell network regulates intestinal barrier repair in postnatal life. Her lab employs innovative large animal models to study intestinal wound healing with translational applications for neonatal care in both veterinary and human medicine.