IBD PRO Consensus Initiative

Peter Higgins completed his M.D. degree and Ph.D. in molecular cancer biology in 1998. After graduation, Peter trained in Internal Medicine at Duke, and then moved to the University of Michigan to complete a fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He joined the University of Michigan faculty in 2004, was appointed Assistant Professor in 2006, and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013. He was promoted to full Professor at the University of Michigan in 2018.

On a national level, Peter has served as the chair of the IIMIBD (Immunology, Microbiology, and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) section of the American Gastroenterological Association, and as co-director of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCF) Clinical Research Alliance. He has started a new role as the vice-chair of the CCF National Scientific Advisory Committee in 2022, and became chair in 2025, guiding CCF funding toward improving the lives of IBD patients.

The Higgins Laboratory is focused on understanding inflammatory bowel disease, which encompasses the inflammation and bowel damage caused by ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Using basic and translational approaches, the lab is working to understand the mechanisms of inflammation and fibrosis, how to measure disease, and to develop new gut-selective medications to treat them. Peter, along with the IBD faculty, pioneered the use of high-intensity JAK inhibitors for acute severe ulcerative colitis. Since 2003, Dr. Higgins has continuously held NIH funding for his work, and has led several national clinical trials in IBD.

Alandra Weaver is the Vice President of Clinical Quality and Research Innovation at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. In this role, she is responsible for leading and optimizing the Foundation’s portfolio of clinical quality and research initiatives and advancing innovative, patient-centric research collaborations.

In her nearly twenty years as a healthcare leader, she has organized and implemented novel solutions to bridge the gap between research and practice. She has led multidisciplinary teams across the oncology and gastroenterology sectors, conceived and authored funded research grants, created strategic partnerships, and overseen a robust portfolio of clinical research collaborations and quality of care initiatives.

Alandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Hunter College School of Urban Public Health in New York City.

Taylor joined the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation in February 2023 and currently serves as the Manager of Research Program Engagement. In this role, she leads efforts to disseminate IBD Qorus program impact, strengthen site engagement, and recruit new sites to the collaborative. Prior to joining the Foundation, Taylor spent four years in management consulting, where she provided project-based support for professional services clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing with a minor in Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship from Montana State University.