PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Training creative and productive investigators in gastrointestinal research is the central mission of our program. Emerging discoveries in human genetics, epigenetics, molecular and cellular biology, single cell sequencing technologies, microbiology, immunology, and epidemiology have had major impacts on the understanding of pathophysiology of gastrointestinal diseases. Accordingly, our T32 program is focused on training MD, MD/PhD, and PhD investigators in basic and clinical research in the pathophysiology of GI diseases. During the past funding cycle, we have significantly enhanced our training faculty, added cutting edge investigators in microbiome research, large dataset analyses, and single cell sequencing technologies to complement existing strengths in mucosal immunology and epithelial biology. We have also succeeded in recruiting and training more competitive trainees, several of which have successfully obtained tenure track, investigation-focused faculty positions. In this application, we propose to continue our training of innovative and creative academic investigators in gastroenterology.