Averil Ma, MD Director, UCSF IBD Center | Chief, Division of Gastroenterology Biography Dr. Ma oversees translational and basic research in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and related inflammatory conditions. His lab studies ubiquitin-regulating proteins like A20 and their roles in immune regulation and cancer prevention. Patients with A20 mutations develop early-onset inflammation; his team uses genetic engineering, CRISPR-based screening, and mass spectrometry to study immune signaling and tissue homeostasis. Translational efforts connect mouse models with human blood and intestinal samples to advance therapeutic development.