Yvonne Romero's long term career goal is to decrease the mortality rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Yvonne is a Harvard undergraduate who completed a 3-year Gastroenterology fellowship at Mayo in 1996, matriculated into the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program at McMaster University in 1997, was the first Mayo Fellow in Diseases of the Esophagus in 1998, who joined the staff at Mayo in May 1999. Her clinical mentor, Alan J. Cameron, MD, is a recognized authority on Barrett's esophagus, a premalignant disorder. They have been addressing the question of familial gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus since 1994. Their first project, which showed aggregation of reflux symptoms in families of probands with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma (but not solo reflux esophagitis), was published in Gastroenterology in 1997. In the Barrett's Esophagus Genomic Study, for which Dr. Romero acts as primary investigator, 96 families with 3 or more effected persons have already been identified. A separate pilot study showed a trend of increased Barrett's esophagus prevalence among symptomatic relatives of probands with Barrett's compared to controls. Doctor Romero's immediate goals are to, 1) determine the risk of Barrett's esophagus and reflux esophagitis, the presumed precursor of Barrett's, among relatives of Barrett's probands compared to age-, sex-, medication- and symptom- matched controls without significant family history; and 2) collect blood from high- prevalence Barrett's esophagus families. Her intermediate goals are to 1) carry out a genome screen to map the chromosomal location of the gene(s) responsible for the phenotypes of reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus using linkage analysis; 2) detect genetic heterogeneity as there is likely more than one major gene involved; and 3) fine map the genetic region(s) identified through linkage analysis, to identify the smallest genomic segment that contains the gene(s). To pursue this line of evidence in a scientifically stringent manner, Dr. Romero has been enrolled in genetic epidemiology coursework at the University of Minnesota since February 1999 and will continue to do so as supported by this award.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23DK002956-04
Application #
6706192
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2001-03-01
Project End
2005-11-30
Budget Start
2003-12-01
Budget End
2004-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$119,988
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
006471700
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Orbelo, Diana M; Enders, Felicity T; Romero, Yvonne et al. (2015) Once-daily omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate heals severe refractory reflux esophagitis with morning or nighttime dosing. Dig Dis Sci 60:146-62
Ek, Weronica E; Levine, David M; D'Amato, Mauro et al. (2013) Germline genetic contributions to risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma, Barrett's esophagus, and gastroesophageal reflux. J Natl Cancer Inst 105:1711-8
Wolff, C S; Castillo, S F; Larson, D R et al. (2008) Ivor Lewis approach is superior to transhiatal approach in retrieval of lymph nodes at esophagectomy. Dis Esophagus 21:328-33
Gines, A; Cassivi, S D; Martenson Jr, J A et al. (2008) Impact of endoscopic ultrasonography and physician specialty on the management of patients with esophagus cancer. Dis Esophagus 21:241-50
Abdalla, Adil A; Petersen, Bret T; Ott, Beverly J et al. (2007) Impact of feedback and didactic sessions on the reporting behavior of upper endoscopic findings by physicians and nurses. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 5:326-30
Ramage Jr, Jack I; Rumalla, Ashwin; Baron, Todd H et al. (2005) A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of endoscopic steroid injection therapy for recalcitrant esophageal peptic strictures. Am J Gastroenterol 100:2419-25