Elissa M Downs

Elissa M Downs, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. Her academic profile demonstrates significant contributions to pediatric gastrointestinal medicine with a focus on complex pancreatic conditions and cystic fibrosis management.

Dr. Downs' research expertise centers on pediatric pancreatitis, total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation, and cystic fibrosis-related gastrointestinal complications. Her work addresses critical gaps in understanding body composition in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients and the management of chronic pancreatic disorders in children. The fingerprint analysis of her research shows strong concentration in pancreatectomy (100%), autotransplantation (91%), and chronic pancreatitis (50%), indicating specialized expertise in these complex surgical and medical interventions for pediatric patients.

Her publication record shows consistent productivity with 26 research outputs, including multiple 2025 publications examining abdominal pain following pancreatic surgery, serum triglyceride impacts on pediatric pancreatitis, and long-term outcomes of islet autotransplantation procedures. These works frequently appear in high-impact journals such as the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and Transplantation.

As Principal Investigator, Dr. Downs has secured substantial research funding through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and other organizations. Her current active projects include the BEGIN study evaluating CFTR function in infants and young children (2021-2026), and a Phase 1 study assessing ANG003 for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients (2023-2025). She has previously led the DIGEST training program for gastroenterology specialists (2019-2022) and research on body composition in pediatric cystic fibrosis patients (2015-2017).

Dr. Downs maintains active collaborations through research consortia including INSPPIRE for chronic pancreatitis studies and the POST Consortium for pancreatic surgery outcomes. Her work has received attention through news coverage, social media discussion, and academic platforms like Mendeley, demonstrating impact beyond traditional academic circles.