David Elliott

David Elliott, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa. He also serves as the Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, leading clinical and research initiatives in gastrointestinal diseases and immunology.

• PhD in Immunology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
• MD, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
• Residency in Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
• Fellowship in Gastroenterology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Dr. Elliott’s research centers on the immunological basis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with a focus on how parasitic helminths modulate the immune system to suppress inflammation. His work explores the role of T-cell signaling pathways such as Stat6 and TGF-β in colitis and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), aiming to develop novel immunomodulatory therapies. He investigates the interplay between gut immunity and systemic inflammation, including the gut-lung axis and post-transplant immune responses.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in using helminth-based models to understand immune regulation in colitis, GVHD, and autoimmune conditions. These studies employ murine models and molecular techniques to dissect cytokine signaling, epithelial barrier integrity, and the therapeutic potential of parasite-derived immunomodulation. His work bridges basic immunology and clinical gastroenterology, contributing to both mechanistic understanding and translational applications.

Dr. Elliott is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and holds a medical license in Iowa. He is actively engaged in clinical care, research, and academic leadership.

Notable scientific contributions include:

• Investigating helminth-induced immune tolerance in IBD
• Elucidating the role of Stat6 and furin in TGF-β production by T cells
• Exploring the preservation of graft-versus-tumor effects during helminth-mediated GVHD suppression
• Contributing to clinical trials on infliximab for Crohn’s disease recurrence

Dr. Elliott mentors junior researchers and collaborates extensively within the University of Iowa and nationally. While formal advisees are not listed, his leadership in research groups and publications with trainees indicates active involvement in academic training. He has not received publicly listed awards in the provided text, but his sustained publication record and divisional leadership reflect significant scholarly impact. His work is supported by institutional and potentially federal research funding, though specific grants are not detailed.

He is affiliated with the Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and contributes to interdisciplinary research efforts. His laboratory likely focuses on mucosal immunology, using transgenic mouse models and cellular immunology techniques to study intestinal inflammation and immune regulation.