Fangtao Chi, PhD

Dr. Chi’s research examines how dietary nutrients and cellular metabolism influence intestinal regeneration and tumorigenesis. The intestine renews itself rapidly and relies on intestinal stem cells to repair damage after infection, inflammation, or cancer therapy. Dr. Chi is discovering that specific nutrients can act as signals that boost stem cell activity and accelerate tissue repair. But these same regenerative programs can also be hijacked to support abnormal growth and increase the likelihood of tumor formation under certain conditions. Dr. Chi plans to systematically test nutrients and metabolic pathways to understand when and how diet promotes repair versus when it inadvertently promotes tumorigenesis. Ultimately, this work aims to provide a foundation for designing dietary regimens that improve tissue repair and resilience while reducing the potential for intestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer.