Prashant Nighot

Dr. Prashant Nighot is a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His research focuses on intestinal mucosal homeostasis, particularly the role of tight junction (TJ) barriers in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). He investigates autophagy's role in TJ regulation, with NIH-funded studies exploring autophagy-mediated TJ enhancement to prevent intestinal inflammation. His lab also examines targets like the AhR pathway and ClC-2 chloride channels to combat IBD. Dr. Nighot teaches graduate courses in Cell System Biology and co-directs the GI Pathophysiology course for medical students.

• Research Interests: TJ barrier defects in IBD, autophagy mechanisms, AhR pathway activation, ClC-2 chloride channel function.
• Recent Projects: NIH-funded studies on autophagy-TJ interactions and novel ligands for AhR pathway activation.

Publications span 2003–2025, with recent work emphasizing TJ regulation via novel pathways and clinical trials for exercise interventions.