The Margolis Laboratory studies the roles of gut serotonergic signaling in mood disorders and disorders of gut-brain interaction as well as the role of GI issues in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Margolis Lab
Associate Professor, Molecular Pathobiology
NYU College of Dentistry
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Associate Director, Clinical and Translational Research
Director, Brain-Gut Science
NYU Pain Research Center
Biography
Kara G. Margolis did her residency in Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (New York, NY) and completed a clinical and research fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital of Boston, Harvard Medical School. After completion of her Fellowship training, Dr. Margolis was recruited to Columbia University where she spent 15 years treating children with brain-gut axis disorders, including those with Functional GI Disorders and also children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and GI issues. She simultaneously spearheaded a laboratory focused on clinical, translational and basic science studies examining diverse aspects of the brain-gut axis (see below). This research has provided important insights into how abnormalities in the gut can arise in children with brain-gut axis disorders such as autism, inflammatory bowel diseases, antenatal antidepressant exposure, and disorders of gut-brain interaction. Dr. Margolis was recruited in 2022 to NYU to become the Associate Director for Clinical and translational Research, and Director of Brain-Gut Science, for an inaugural NYU wide Pain Research Center.
Dr. Margolis’ laboratory is focused on the study of: (1) serotonergic signaling in mood disorders (depression and anxiety), gastrointestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel diseases, motility disorders) and disorders of gut-brain interactions, of which GI pain is a prominent component; (2) the role of GI dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism; and (3) the role of diet on GI and behavioral outcomes in children with Autism. She is funded by the NIH, DoD, several Foundations, the pharmaceutical industry and philanthropic donations.
Contact Information
- Office: 7th Floor, 433 1st Avenue
- Lab: 433 1st Avenue
- Email: Km5994@nyu.edu