Caldera Research

The Caldera Lab

Dr. Freddy Caldera, DO, PhD, MS, is a gastroenterologist and clinical researcher specializing in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care and prevention. He is the founder and director of the Caldera Lab, whose mission is to evaluate the safety of medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease.

Safety of Immune Modifying Therapies Used to Treat IBD and Vaccine Research in IBD

The Caldera Lab evaluates the safety profile of immune-modifying therapies in IBD patients, with particular focus on vaccine-preventable diseases. We aim to optimize preventive care strategies and improve clinical outcomes by understanding real-world vaccine effectiveness and immune responses in immunocompromised patients.

With over 120 peer-reviewed publications, our work has directly impacted clinical practice guidelines and helps gastroenterologists make evidence-based decisions about patient care.

Research Team

Megan Lutz, MD

Faculty Member

Oscar Ramirez Ramirez, MD

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellow

Trevor Schell, MD

Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellow

Sindhu Battula, MD

Internal Medicine Resident

Yash Hegde, MD

Internal Medicine Resident

Harshitha Mogallapalli, MD

Internal Medicine Resident

Ahamed Lazim Vattoth, MD

Internal Medicine Resident

Collaborators

Mary S. Hayney, PharmD, MPH - School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Alumni

The Caldera Lab is committed to training the next generation of physician-scientists in IBD outcomes and preventive care research. We are proud of our trainees who have gone on to impactful careers in gastroenterology. Previous members include:

Ryan Smith, MD — Gastroenterologist, MNGI
Mazen Almasry, MBBS — Gastroenterology Fellow, Cleveland Clinic
Jeffrey Hubers, MD — Gastroenterologist, Mayo Clinic, Eau Claire, WI

Dr. Caldera speaking with another man in front of research posters

Join Us!

The Caldera Lab welcomes collaborations with academic investigators, clinicians, and industry partners committed to advancing the safety of IBD care. We are particularly interested in partnering on studies evaluating the real-world safety of immune-modifying therapies, vaccine immunogenicity, and preventive care outcomes in patients with IBD.

Researchers or organizations interested in collaborative opportunities are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Caldera directly.

Email Dr. Caldera

Active Projects

Large-Scale Database Studies on IBD Medication Safety: Using large databases to perform retrospective studies evaluating real-world vaccine effectiveness, risk of serious infections, risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, and other safety aspects related to IBD therapy and disease in patients with IBD.
Immune Response to Vaccination in IBD: Collaborative research with the School of Pharmacy evaluating immune response to vaccines (influenza, herpes zoster) and sustained vaccine response in patients with IBD on various immune-modifying therapies, including assessment of sustained responses to vaccine-preventable diseases (measles and varicella).
Safety of Live Vaccines in Patients with IBD on Immunosuppressive Therapy: Patients with IBD are frequently treated with immunosuppressive medications that may affect their ability to safely receive live vaccines, such as those for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. While live vaccines are generally avoided in immunocompromised patients due to concerns about vaccine-derived infection, many patients with IBD may have suboptimal immunity to these diseases and remain at risk. This project evaluates the real-world safety of live vaccine administration in patients with IBD on immunosuppressive therapy, with the goal of informing evidence-based clinical guidelines and helping gastroenterologists make safer, more personalized vaccination decisions for their patients.

Funding Support

Dr. Caldera's research is supported by the Yehle Family Fund and investigator-initiated grants focused on IBD outcomes and preventive care research. The Caldera Lab has been supported by a diverse portfolio of funders reflecting the breadth and collaborative nature of its research program, including the American College of Gastroenterology, the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), and pharmaceutical partners including GSK, Novavax, Janssen, and Merck.