Janelle C. Arthur

Janelle C. Arthur, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the UNC School of Medicine. She is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and affiliated with the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease. Her research investigates microbiome-mediated mechanisms driving intestinal inflammation and inflammation-linked diseases like cancer and fibrosis.

Research Interests: The Arthur Lab focuses on understanding how inflammation alters the pro-carcinogenic capabilities of gut microbiota, particularly in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using genomics, bioinformatics, bacterial cultivation, and gnotobiotic mouse models, the lab identifies inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, and uncovers their functional genes and pathways. Key research areas include microbial small molecules in fibrosis, dynamic microbial communities in colitis, and DNA barcoding techniques for spatial visualization of gut microbes.

Scientific Awards:

• Jefferson-Pilot Fellowships in Academic Medicine (2021-2022)
• Benjamin F. Trump Award (2014)
• Aspen Cancer Conference Fellow (2014)
• CGIBD Pilot Award (2013)
• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012-2014)

Labs and Teams: The Arthur Lab is affiliated with the National Gnotobiotic Rodent Resource Center and collaborates with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease. The lab employs multidisciplinary techniques, including in vivo/in vitro models, biochemistry, immunofluorescence, and bioinformatics, to study microbiome roles in colitis and fibrosis.