Terrence A. Barrett

Terrence A. Barrett, MD is a tenured Professor and holds the Marcos Lin Andrade Endowed Chair at the University of Kentucky's School of Medicine. He serves as part of the Department of Internal Medicine - Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, with an adjunct faculty role in Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics. His clinical expertise focuses on severe refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly in gastrointestinal disorders. Dr. Barrett's research investigates mitochondrial respiration's role in colitis, leading to the development of AuPhos, a patented drug candidate targeting intestinal mitochondrial function. He has secured continuous NIH and VA funding over 30 years, with active projects including VA merit-funded studies on colitis treatment.

Education: MD from University of Illinois, followed by residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital, and gastroenterology/immunology fellowships at the University of Chicago. His lab explores epithelial responses in colitis and translational drug development. Collaborations include work with the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center and the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute.

Research interests span mitochondrial biology, IBD pathogenesis, and immunomodulatory therapies. He has published extensively in high-impact journals, focusing on gastrointestinal diseases, cellular energy pathways, and novel drug mechanisms. His clinical roles include caring for complex IBD cases and advancing precision medicine approaches in gastrointestinal care.