If you would like to to make a gift in support of the GME program,
please contact Stephen Maher at 254-724-0077 or [email protected].
Oregon Health Sciences University in
Portland, Oregon, but looks forward
to returning to Central Texas after
completing that training. “When I first
started my medical residency I didn’t
know that I would be interested in
research, but I fell into this opportunity
and realized that here at Scott & White
research is happening in whatever field
you have a passion for—for me, it’s
patient safety and quality,” she says.
Tackling two GI diseases
Scott & White first-year gastroenterology
fellow Christopher Johnson, MD, PhD,
completed a dual-doctoral degree at the
University of Illinois in Champaign.
Working with Gianfranco Alpini,
PhD, and the Scott & White Digestive
Disease Research Center, Dr. Johnson
has conducted a basic research study
on the alcoholic liver disease cirrhosis,
and a study on the role that histamine
plays in the biliary tract and in a rare
but aggressive form of cancer in the bile
ducts. The alcoholic liver disease study
evaluates microRNAs (ribonucleic acid),
cellular molecules that play a role in gene
expression and may later trigger different
diseases. MicroRNAs have given rise to
a new generation of research that the
medical community is just beginning
to understand with regard to its
significance for people with liver disease,
inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.
Dr. Johnson says, “We see alcoholic liver
disease every day in our clinical practice.
We believe microRNAs play a role in
this condition. So, we believe that if we
can manipulate important microRNAs
with genetic techniques, we can slow the
development of liver disease.” Fanyin
Meng, PhD, also is part of this study.
Dr. Johnson’s second study looks at
the role of histamine, a neurotransmitter
believed to be involved in normal
cell turnover. Neurotransmitters are
chemical messengers that relay signals
from cells to neurons; they are believed
to be involved in the rapid growth of
bile duct cells and the development
of bile duct (biliary) cancer. Bile ducts
play an important role in digestion, and
even though bile duct cancer is very
rare, it’s very aggressive; often by the
time it is diagnosed, the only treatment
option is palliative care. Patients who
have a type of inflammatory bowel
disease called ulcerative colitis are
particularly at risk for bile duct cancer,
as well as patients with certain liver and
bile duct infections, such as liver flukes.
“As part of an ongoing study, we’re
investigating what happens to the bile
ducts during cholangitis—chronic bile
duct inflammation—to understand
histamine’s role,” says Dr. Johnson.
Having a strong research training
program available to him has been
very valuable to Dr. Johnson as he
charts a career path. “It’s always been
my goal to have a patient practice
and do clinically relevant research,”
he says. “I have a passion for basic
and translational research that I can
apply to patients in my practice. It
gives me great satisfaction asking
how the body works and protects
itself against microorganisms, and
applying that knowledge directly to
patient care.”
GME funding is necessary
Philanthropy enhances the medical
education and research components of
the GME program, as well as enhances
the care of patients at Baylor Scott
& White. “When we’re expanding
clinical areas, such as neuroscience, we
hire faculty and other clinical providers
to expand our expertise and offer more
care,” Dr. Wesson says. “Patient care
is job one and to perform well in this
most important job, we must recruit
the best talent to not just provide
care but also advance the research
and education mission.” Philanthropy
is vital to Scott & White’s success.
“Investing in GME achieves the triple
play: it provides first-class education,
advances the research mission, and
allows us to deliver better quality
care,” says Dr. Wesson. n
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