Director, Clinical Inflammatory Bowel Disease
F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Gil Y. Melmed, MD is Director of Clinical Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and advanced IBD training at the F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute at Cedars Sinai.

Dr. Melmed's main research interests include clinical outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), including health-related quality of life, post-operative outcomes, vaccination issues in patients with IBD, and quality improvement of care delivered to patients with IBD. Dr. Melmed has multiple collaborations with IBD investigators around North America.

Dr. Melmed has authored or co-authored numerous articles for peer-reviewed publications, including Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Dr. Melmed is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Gastroenterology Association and the American College of Gastroenterology. He co-chairs the Los Angeles Chapter Medical Advisory Committee of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and co-chairs the national CCFA Quality of Care committee.

Dr. Melmed received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Cedars-Sinai and his gastroenterology fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, where he also received a master's of science in Clinical Research. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

Comprehensive Diagnostic and Treatment Services for Adults and Children with IBD

The F. Widjaja Inflammatory Bowel and Immunobiology Research Institute (IBIRI) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a highly specialized patient care and research facility, focused on providing comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for adults and children with IBD. The IBD Center provides adult and pediatric patients with comprehensive medical services, including a philosophy geared toward personalized healthcare and an integrated team of experienced specialists.

The IBD Center's team of experts offers broad-based knowledge in every area of IBD treatment, including innovative immune-suppressing drug therapy. Leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies continually seek the expertise of the IBD Center's researchers to determine the effectiveness of their new products and procedures.

The IBD Center is designed to provide the greatest of comfort and ease to patients and family members who are dealing with the difficult medical conditions and treatments.

BASIC SCIENCE/LABORATORY RESEARCH
The laboratory research arm of the IBD Center is part of the Cedars-Sinai Research Institute. The IBD lab research group is engaged in basic science investigations aimed at identifying the causes of IBD and translating those findings into improved treatment options. In addition, a major focus of research efforts is in genetics and translational research, where Cedars-Sinai investigators have contributed to major discoveries in understanding the genetic underpinnings of IBD and its manifestations.

 Controversies in ulcerative colitis: a survey comparing decision making of experts versus community gastroenterologists.

 Immunosuppression impairs response to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

 Genetic predictors of medically refractory ulcerative colitis.

 The appropriateness of concomitant immunomodulators with anti-tumor necrosis factor agents for Crohn's disease: one size does not fit all.

 Are high-dose perioperative steroids necessary in patients undergoing colorectal surgery treated with steroid therapy within the past 12 months?

 Safety and feasibility of using low-dose perioperative intravenous steroids in inflammatory bowel disease patients undergoing major colorectal surgery: A pilot study.

 Does preoperative immunosuppression influence unplanned hospital readmission after surgery in patients with Crohn's disease?

 High-dose perioperative corticosteroids in steroid-treated patients undergoing major colorectal surgery: necessary or overkill?

 Are immunosuppressive medications associated with decreased responses to routine immunizations? A systematic review.

 Assessing Health Status in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using a Novel Single-Item Numeric Rating Scale.

 Evaluation of antibiotic strategies for the treatment of C. difficile infections in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

 Vaccination responses among patients with IBD immunized with tetanus and pertussis booster vaccination during a pertussis epidemic

 Use of low dose steroids among patients with IBD undergoing major abdominal surgery – challenging the dogma

 Evaluation of quality of life of patients with IBD using a single item numeric scale

 Development of quality measures for inflammatory bowel disease

 Risk of thromboembolic events among hospitalized patients with IBD

 Genetic underpinnings of patients with isolated small bowel Crohn’s disease

 Genetic underpinnings of patients with skin manifestations of IBD

 Genetic underpinnings of patients with eye manifestations of IBD