Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) or disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) are a heterogeneous group of chronic conditions that are relevant to public health because they are remarkably common, can be disabling, and induce a major social and economic burden. Estimates vary, but about 1 in 4 people or more in the U.S. have one of these disorders. The conditions account for about 40% of GI problems seen by doctors and therapists. In the last years, we are focusing our research on understanding the mechanisms by which these conditions can be manifest. In particular, our studies are concentrating on the role of the new techniques able to characterize these patients, including the use of high-resolution manometry, impedance-pH testing and endoflip. Our aim is to comprehensively and systematically identify and validate new therapeutic targets, to improve our diagnostic algorithm, to increase our therapeutic strategies and to evaluate the effect of these conditions on the quality of life and work disability.

Publications:

Savarino E, Zingone F, Barberio B, Marasco G, Akyuz F, Akpinar H, Barboi O, Bodini G, Bor S, Chiarioni G, Cristian G, Corsetti M, Di Sabatino A, Dimitriu AM, Drug V, Dumitrascu DL, Ford AC, Hauser G, Nakov R, Patel N, Pohl D, Sfarti C, Serra J, Simrén M, Suciu A, Tack J, Toruner M, Walters J, Cremon C, Barbara G.
Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility.
United European Gastroenterol J. 2022 Jun 13;10(6):556–584.

Gyawali CP, Marchetti L, Rogers BD, Chan WW, Wong MW, Visaggi P, Rengarajan A, Carlson DA, Savarino E, de Bortoli N, Chen CL, Pandolfino J.
The Lyon Score: A Novel Reflux Scoring System Based on the Lyon Consensus 2.0 That Associates With Treatment Outcome From Antireflux Therapy.
Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 May 1; 120(5):1009-1018.

Savarino E, Bhatia S, Roman S, Sifrim D, Tack J, Thompson SK, Gyawali CP.
Achalasia.
Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022 May 5;8(1):28

Gyawali CP, Yadlapati R, Fass R, Katzka D, Pandolfino J, Savarino E, Sifrim D, Spechler S, Zerbib F, Fox MR, Bhatia S, de Bortoli N, Cho YK, Cisternas D, Chen CL, Cock C, Hani A, Remes Troche JM, Xiao Y, Vaezi MF, Roman S.
Updates to the modern diagnosis of GERD: Lyon consensus 2.0.
Gut. 2024 Jan 5;73(2):361-371

Sozzi M, Siboni S, Visaggi P, Rogers BD, Hobson A, Louie BE, Lee YY, Tolone S, Kristo I, Marabotto E, Haworth J, Ivy ML, Theodorou D, Triantafyllou T, Calabrese F, Pasta A, Tee V, Cusmai L, Riva CG, Bernardi D, Masuda T, Penagini R, Coletta M, Schoppmann SF, De Bortoli N, Asti ELG, Savarino EV, Gyawali CP.
Abnormal Milan Score and Compromised Esophageal Mucosal Integrity Stratify Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Severity.
Ann Surg. 2025 May 5. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006747

Funding:

2010 - Title of The Research Project “Relationship Between Gastro-oesophageal Reflux And Pulmonary Fibrosis In Scleroderma Patients – A Study Using Impedance-pH And High Resolution Computed Tomography” Funded by Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE)

People involved:

Edoardo V. Savarino, Associate Professor
Fabiana Zingone, Associate Professor
Renato Salvador, Associate Professor

Group members:

Anna D’Odorico, Francesca Galeazzi, Brigida Barberio (Consultant Gastroenterologists), Sonia Facchin, Erica Bonazzi, Daria Maniero, Michela Palo, Elena Agostini (Research Fellows), Greta Lorenzon (Study Coordinator and Research Nurse)