Dr. Bitar is the director of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Program at WFIRM. The GI program is a translational program that utilizes regenerative medicine approaches to potentially treat patients with deficiencies in the physiological functions of the GI tract. The program will utilize basic science information and apply it to the bioengineering and implantation of functional GI constructs generated from autologous cells. The program goals are intended to help pediatric, adult and geriatric patients.