Ju-Hyun Ahn PhD

Ju-Hyun Ahn is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she joined Dr. Janelle Arthur's lab two years ago. Her research journey commenced during her PhD, with a focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and cellular targets associated with cancer development. Drawing on her knowledge and skills, she developed a keen interest in the captivating realms of immunology and the microbiome. Her current research investigates how the resident intestinal microbiota contributes to Crohn’s disease (CD) and its associated complications, including cancer and intestinal fibrosis. Despite serving as a potent driver of CD, the mechanisms underlying CD-associated fibrosis remain poorly understood. Therefore, her current research is dedicated to comprehensive mechanistic studies aimed at enhancing our understanding of this challenging disease. Exploring novel molecular targets implicated in intestinal fibrosis and investigating their clinical relevance in fibrostenotic CD will ultimately contribute to new prognostic and therapeutic strategies for complications in patients with CD.