Jatin Roper

Assistant Professor of Medicine

My laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of stem cell function in the normal intestine and in colorectal cancer using innovative three-dimensional organoid and in vivo platforms. We demonstrated that high fat diet-induced obesity activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARd) signaling in intestinal stem cells and progenitor cells, which increases stem cell regeneration and tumor initiation in the colon. We also pioneered novel orthotopic transplantation and in situ CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing models of colorectal cancer that recapitulate the adenoma-carcinoma-metastasis sequence. Research in the laboratory is focused on three main areas: 1) Immune regulation of the intestinal epithelium and colorectal cancer; 2) The effects of diet-induced obesity on regeneration in the intestine; and 3) analysis of colorectal cancer heterogeneity with single-cell mRNA sequencing and genetically engineered mouse models. The overall goal of this research is to develop new treatment approaches for intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. I am also a gastroenterologist at Duke University Hospital and the Durham VA Hospital. My clinical interests include colorectal cancer screening and gastrointestinal cancer genetics.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Assistant Professor of Medicine
  • Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
  • Assistant Professor in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute

Contact Information

  • Office Location: 905 S. LaSalle Street, GSRB-1, Room 1033, Durham, NC 27710
  • Email Address: jatin.roper@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • M.D. Boston University, School of Medicine, 2004
  • New York University, School of Medicine, 2005
  • New York University, School of Medicine, 2006
  • New York University, School of Medicine, 2008
  • Tufts University, School of Medicine, 2012
  • Tufts University, School of Medicine, 2014
  • Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, 2018

Research Interests

intestinal stem cell biology, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT Image Award. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. 2018
  • Vector Laboratories Photo Contest Winner. Vector Laboratories. 2017
  • Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT Image Award. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. 2016
  • 1st Place, basic research, Massachusetts Medical Society Research Poster Symposium. Massachusetts Medical Society. 2016
  • Digestive Disease Week Basic Science Travel Award. American Gastroenterological Association . 2016
  • V Scholar Award. V Foundation for Cancer Research. 2013
  • Investing in the Future: Clinical Research in IBD Award. American Gastroenterological Association . 2011
  • ACG Travel Award for Outstanding Clinical Research Presentation. American College of Gastroenterology. 2011
  • 2nd place for Outstanding Poster. Tufts Medical Center Cancer Center . 2010
  • Michael Saperstein Medical Scholar. NYU Langone Medical Center Department of Medicine. 2006
  • Alumni Association Award. Boston University School of Medicine. 2004
  • Magna Cum laude. Boston University. 2001
  • David E. Rogers Fellowship. New York Academy of Medicine. 2001

Courses Taught

  • PHARM 730: Stem Cell Course
  • PHARM 494: Research Independent Study
  • PHARM 493: Research Independent Study
  • MOLCAN 730: Stem Cell Course
  • DSCB 720: Stem Cell Course
  • CELLBIO 730: Stem Cell Course

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Lu, Lingeng, Qian Zhang, Oladimeji Aladelokun, Domenica Berardi, Xinyi Shen, Audrey Marin, Rolando Garcia-Milian, Jatin Roper, Sajid A. Khan, and Caroline H. Johnson. “Asparagine synthetase and G-protein coupled estrogen receptor are critical responders to nutrient supply in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer.” Int J Cancer 156, no. 1 (January 1, 2025): 52–68. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35104.
  • Fuchs, Michaela Aa, Alexander Grabner, Melody Shi, Susan L. Murray, Emily J. Burke, Nejla Latic, Venkataramana Thiriveedi, et al. “Intestinal Cyp24a1 regulates vitamin D locally independent of systemic regulation by renal Cyp24a1 in mice.” J Clin Invest, December 17, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI179882.
  • Youssef, Ayman, Ata Ur Rehman, Mohamed Elebasy, Jatin Roper, Shehzad Z. Sheikh, Jorn Karhausen, Wei Yang, and Luis Ulloa. “Vagal stimulation ameliorates murine colitis by regulating SUMOylation.” Sci Transl Med 16, no. 774 (November 20, 2024): eadl2184. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.adl2184.
  • Artham, Sandeep, Patrick K. Juras, Aditi Goyal, Prabuddha Chakraborty, Jovita Byemerwa, Siyao Liu, Suzanne E. Wardell, et al. “Estrogen signaling suppresses tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia to promote breast tumor growth.” Sci Adv 10, no. 39 (September 27, 2024): eadp2442. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp2442.
  • Kendall, Wesley Y., Qinyi Tian, Shi Zhao, Seyedbabak Mirminachi, Erin O’Kane, Abel Joseph, Darin Dufault, et al. “Deep learning classification of ex vivo human colon tissues using spectroscopic optical coherence tomography.” J Biophotonics 17, no. 9 (September 2024): e202400082. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.202400082.