Fellowship Research

Research Support

The Department of Pediatrics provides financial support for each fellow to present at one national conference as this contributes to their professional development and hones their presentation and networking skills. Since accreditation, 100% of our fellows have presented at national meetings and a large portion go on to publish their research findings during their training or within one year of graduation.

Current Fellows

Maheen Farooq, MBBS

Research Project

• Use of MBP-1 Staining as a way of Differentiating EoE from Esophageal Eosinophilia in IBD
  Research Mentors: Rishi Gupta, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Esther Prince, M.D., Philip Katzman, M.D.

Shehzad Ahmed, M.D.

Research Project

• A Comparative Analysis of Distensibility Index Utilizing Gastrointestinal Manometry in Children with Feeding Intolerance and Eosinophilic Esophagitis
  Research Mentors: Ajay Rana, MBBS, Nishaben Patel, M.D., Leonel Rodriguez, M.D.

Recent Graduates

Vipreet Janjua, M.D.

Research Project

• Current metronidazole usage in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  Research Mentors: Meghan Brunswick, D.O., Angela Sandell, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Lauren Camaione, BCPPS., Maisa Abdala, M.D., M.P.H., Jennifer Nayak, M.D.

Alicia Olave-Pichon, MC

Research Project

• A comparison of the fecal microbiome composition in children with and without very early onset Inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) and that of their mothers.
  Research Mentors: Stephen Gill, Ph,D., Ajay Rana, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Augusto Litonjua, M.D., M.P.H.

Chavonne Kouassi, M.D., M.P.H.

Research Project

• The implementation the mid-upper arm circumference to help aid in identifying the nutritional status of medically complex in the outpatient setting.
  Research Mentors: Megan Gabel, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Esther Prince, M.D., Megan Greenlee, R.D.

Meghan Brunswick, M.D.

Research Project

• Can a prediction model for gastrostomy tube placement be used at a second institution for prediction of any supplement feeding tube in the preterm infant?
  Research Mentors: Julie Riccio, M.D., Rita Dadiz, D.O., Michelle DiRaddo, R.N., Rita Ryan, M.D., Megan Gabel, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D.

Nathan "Zev Minkoff, M.D.

Research Project

• Fecal microbiota transplant and/or fecal microbiome research
  Research Mentors: Art DeCross, M.D., Rebecca Abell, D.O., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Lawrence Saubermann, M.D.

Ayesha Baig, M.D.

Research Project

• Assessment of markers of genotoxicity in a pediatric population with inflammatory bowel disease
  Research Mentors: Rebecca Abell, D.O., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Lawrence Saubermann, M.D. , Stephen Dertinger, Ph.D. (Litron Labs)

Imdad Ullah, M.B.B.S.

Research Project

• To predict portal hypertension and liver fibrosis in children with chronic liver disease by using non-invasive methods
  Research Mentors: Nanda Kerkar, M.D., Lawrence Saubermann, M.D., Gopal Ramaraju, M.D.

Gracielle Bahia, D.O.

Research Project

• Effect of acupoint stimulus in pediatric abdominal pain
  Research Mentors: Rebecca Abell, D.O., Olle Jane Sahler, M.D., Kevin Ergil, D.A.C.M., Renee Nearpass, M.S.A.O.M., Thomas Rossi, M.D.

Albert Chan, M.D.

Research Project

• Fecal S100A12 levels in children with inflammatory bowel disease
  Research Mentors: Kirsi Jarvinen-Seppo, M.D., Ph.D., Danielle Marino, M.D., Marilyn Brown, M.D., Nishaben Patel, M.D., Rebecca Abell, D.O., Thomas Rossi, M.D.

Walaa Elfar, M.B.Ch.B.

Research Project

• Erythropoietin in GI motility
  Research Mentors: Patricia R. Chess, M.D., Mark Noble Ph.D., Thomas M. Rossi, M.D., Marilyn Brown. M.D., Carlo Di Lorenzo

Mariana Middelhof, M.D.

Research Project

• Intravenous Omega-3 Fatty Acid Emulsion (Omegaven^TM) in Parenteral Nutrition Related Liver Disease and Long-term Outcome on Retinopathy of Prematurity and Neurodevelopment.
  Research Mentors: Patricia R. Chess, M.D., Sanjiv B. Amin, M.B.B.S., Marilyn Brown. M.D., Prita Mohanty, M.D., Lori H. Scholer, C.D.N.

Vibha Sood, M.B.B.S.

Research Project

• Study of type three secretion system mediated pathogenesis of Vibrio cholerae
  Research Mentors: Michelle Dziejman, Ph.D., Lawrence J. Saubermann, M.D., Marilyn Brown, M.D.

Matthew Shields, M.D.

Research Project

• Effects of exercise on cytokine levels in children with Crohn's disease
  Research Mentors: Mary T. Caserta, M.D., Deborah J. Fowell, Ph.D., Karen M. Mustian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Lawrence J. Saubermann, M.D., Marilyn Brown, M.D.

Prita H. Mohanty, M.D.

Research Projects

• Prevalence of celiac antibodies in children with autism spectrum disorders
  Research Mentors: Susan L. Hyman, M.D., Marilyn R. Brown, M.D., Tristram H. Smith, Ph.D.
• Evaluation of the esophageal microbiome and tight junctions in the development of eosinophilic esophagitis
  Research Mentors: Lawrence J. Saubermann, M.D., Lisa A. Beck, M.D., Marilyn R. Brown, M.D., Steven R. Gill, Ph.D.

Osama F. Almadhoun, M.D.

Research Project

• Positive IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody titers with normal histology, is that false positive or potential Celiac?
  Research Mentors: Philip J. Katzman, M.D., David I. Yule, Ph.D., Thomas M. Rossi, M.D., Marilyn R. Brown, M.D.

Megan E. Gabel, M.D.

Megan E. Gabel, M.D.
Research Project

• TNF-induced liver injury
  Research Mentors: Gloria S. Pryhuber, M.D., Yi-Horng Lee, M.D., Marilyn R. Brown, M.D.

Husam S. Mallah, M.D.

Research Project

• Monocyte cytokine responses as a possible differentiation and activity marker in IBD in children; Duration of pancreatic enzyme elevation in acute pancreatitis
  Research Mentors: Yi-Horng Lee, M.D., Lawrence J. Saubermann, M.D., Marilyn R. Brown, M.D.