About the Lab
The Coburn Lab is dedicated to advancing behavioral research in chronic illness, with a specific focus on celiac disease in pediatric and adolescent populations. Our lab's mission is to translate behavioral science into practical interventions that enhance patient care. We aim to develop innovative, patient-centered interventions that improve self-management and quality of life. Our work also emphasizes the importance of integrating social determinants of health (SDOH) to better understand and address disparities in healthcare access, diagnosis and treatment outcomes for those living with celiac disease.
About Shayna Coburn, PhD
Shayna Coburn, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and associate professor at Children’s National Hospital. She provides psychological services within the Division of Gastroenterology and oversees a thriving NIH-funded research lab, all aiming to improve the lives of youth living with GI conditions requiring dietary therapies. She is particularly invested in supporting families living with celiac disease and has developed an investigational behavioral intervention, the GROW (Gluten-free Resilience and Overall Wellness) Project, with support from a NIH K23 Career Development Award. Recognized with internal and external foundation grants, including the Beyond Celiac-SSCD Early Career Research Award, her collaborations and achievements underscore her dedication to advancing behavioral interventions in pediatric health.
Originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Dr. Coburn received her BA from Brandeis University and worked at NIH for two years before beginning her graduate training. She received her MA and PhD from Arizona State University with a focus on child clinical psychology. She completed her predoctoral internship at Children’s National Hospital and her postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Adherence Research Center. Dr. Coburn’s professional passions are enhanced by her personal experience living with celiac disease.
*NOTE: Dr. Coburn does not see patients for regular therapy. Please contact the Celiac Disease Clinic for more information.
About the Celiac Disease Clinic
Working in partnership with concerned members of our community, our Celiac Disease Program and Multidisciplinary Celiac Disease Clinic bring together a team of expert physicians, nurse practitioners, nutritional consultants and psychologists dedicated to developing a national model for detecting and treating celiac disease in children.
About the Celiac Disease Behavioral Science Consortium
We are members of the CDBSC. They have an extensive list of resources serving the celiac disease community.