betty and guy beatty center for integrated - Inova Health System

T RANSLATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ( TRI)
All our projects are focused on advancing our understanding of the range of chronic liver diseases
and confounding factors, including obesity, diabetes type II, and metabolic syndrome.
Most of the research projects are being conducted in collaboration with George Mason University
and involve the participation and training of students from various academic levels. A majority of the
experimental projects are coordinated by Dr. Aybike Birerdinc, Dr. Michael Estep, and Dr.
Ancha Baranova.
David Armistead (PhD student) is working on an analysis of the miRNA profiles of the visceral adipose
patients with liver fibrosis. Rohini Mehta (PhD student) is involved in gastric tissue profiling
using qPCR arrays to query gastric tissue samples with the aim of discovering possible relation
ships between NASH, Obesity, Type II Diabetes (T2D), and gene expression profiles.
In conjunction, undergraduate student Reem Alhussain is using the same tissue samples in a
study aimed at determining the best set of housekeeping genes for the use of data normalization
in qPCR studies of gastric tissue. For the same subset of patients, cytokine profiles are obtained
by using the Bio-Plex system, and gastric tissue slides are stained to detect cytokine receptors.
These latter studies involve students Darshan Desai (post-baccalaureate student) and Amanda Zirzow
(M.S. student), respectively. Nandita Niranjan (M.S. student) is involved in the study aimed to
correlate gene expression profiles of obesity-related genes with underlying polycystic ovarian
syndrome (PCOS). The cytokine profiling aspect of this study using ELISA assays include
esThuyTran (post-baccalaureate student).
The efficacy of various protocols for RNA and serum preservation involves the work of Beth Eom
(M.S. student). We are also investigating the relationship between melanogenesis and secondary
complications of obesity. This project includes the work of Massih Abawi (PhD student), Sandra
Page (PhD student), and Amanda Zirzow (M.S. student).
We have published numerous abstracts for various international conferences, including the Ameri
can Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), Digestive Disease Week (DDW), and
the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2009 Annual Meetings. Additionally,
our team has published a large number manuscripts in various journals, including high-impact pub
lications such as Hepatology, Obesity Surgery, Current Molecular Medicine, Journal of Hepatology,
and Journal of Viral Hepatitis.
In 2009, we celebrated the graduation of Dr. Ganiraju Manyam and Shanna Bolden, M.S. The team
looks forward to another productive and rewarding year at the TRI laboratory. Future projects in
clude protocols addressing heart disease and obesity as well as other co-morbidities as we continue
to research and develop diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and provide valuable hands-on train
ing opportunities for the next generation of young researchers. The following is a list of on-going
projects:
1. ELISA of inflammatory cytokines involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
2. Biopanel of cytokines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and NASH diagnostics
3. Melanin assessment in obesity
P AGE 18 TRI CONTINUED