Elena Verdu, MD, PhD

Dr. Elena Verdu is Professor in Medicine and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Microbial Therapeutics and Nutrition in Gastroenterology. Verdu is the Director of the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Institute at McMaster University since July 2024. Her research aims at deciphering the microbial-dietary interactions that influence the development of inflammatory intestinal diseases such as celiac disease and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Verdu obtained a medical degree in Argentina, trained as clinical research fellow at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and pursued a Ph.D. degree in immunology and gnotobiology at the Czech Academy of Science. She is Senior Associate Editor (basic Science) for the journal Gastroenterology, Board Member and Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Celiac Disease and serves in many American Gastroenterology Association Institute committees. She has received many awards including the Master’s Award in Gastroenterology in Basic Science (American Gastroenterology Association), the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (CAG) Research Excellence Award, and the Crohn’s and Colitis of Canada (CCC)-Pfeizer Women in IBD: Outstanding Research Achievement Award. She was awarded the King Charles III coronation medal for working alongside the community and Celiac Canada, and is an elected member of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.