OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors.
Follow this format for each person.  DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES.

1. Personal Statement

I am well qualified to be a co-investigator on this project. I am currently a third year fellow in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology. I have 80% protected time for research in both my second and third years of fellowship. Drs. Atkinson (Principal Investigator) and Dimmitt have mentored me during my time in residency and Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. My principal research interest is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE). I am actively engaged in research related to EOE. I assisted in a pilot study characterizing the esophageal and colonic microbiome using esophageal bushings and stool samples respectively. The project is currently in manuscript preparation. I am actively enrolling patients from Children’s of Alabama Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program (GEDP) into a local registry. I am also assisting in the collection of genetic samples from our GEDP patients for a collaborative project with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The goal of this project is to perform a genome wide association study to further the understanding of EOE genetics. Our center is a key collaborator in this study as our patient population is much more diverse than others studied to date, specifically with an African American population >23% of our total EOE population. I am also doing a sub analysis of our previous esophageal microbiome project to prove the concept that esophageal biopsies are representative of the microbiome results obtained via esophageal brushings. I hope to continue to perform research in EOE following my training. Successful funding of this research project will allow me to hone my research skills and develop the preliminary results necessary to be competitive for a future early career grant.

2. Positions and Honors

Positions and Employment

2013-2014              Clinical Instructor, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Birmingham at Alabama Department of Pediatrics

Other Experience and Professional Memberships

2006-Present                             Member, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

2011-Present              Member, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)             

2014-Present              Member, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN)             

2014-Present                            Member, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)

2014-Present                            Member, American Partnership For Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED)

Honors

              2006                                                        Alpha Epsilon Delta Honors Society                                                       

2015                                                         Chu Family Scholarship Awardee, competitive one-year educational scholarship

2015-2016                                          University of Alabama at Birmingham House Staff Council President

1. Selected peer-reviewed publications

1.  CaJacob NJ, Cohen MB. Update on Diarrhea. Pediatrics in Review, 2016 August; 37(8): 313-22.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

1.  CaJacob N, Mestre J. “Approach to the Child with Acute, Chronic, or Cyclic Vomiting.” Rudolph’s

     Pediatrics. 23rd ed. McGraw-Hill, in press.

D.  Research Support

Ongoing Research Support

2015-Present                            Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, UAB

Characterizing guanylate cyclase C mRNA expression in duodenal and colonic

                                                                      biopsies in children 0-17 years. Mentor: Mitchell Cohen, MD

2014-Present                            Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, UAB

                                                                      Eosinophils and Inflammation.

                                                                      Mentors: Reed Dimmitt, MD and Prescott Atkinson, MD

2014-Present                            Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, UAB

                                                                      Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program Patient Registry

                                                                      Mentor: Reed Dimmitt, MD

Completed Research Support

2014-2016                            Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, UAB

Investigating the role of the esophageal and colonic microbiomes in eosinophilic esophagitis.     Mentor: Reed Dimmitt, MD

2007                                          Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

                                                        Investigated the imaging associated with MRSA cellulitis in patients at CCHMC from 2001-2005.

                                                        Mentor: Leann Linam, MD

2007                                          Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati

Investigated the use of resuscitation fluids in the trauma bay at the University of Cincinnati ED from 2002-2007.Mentor: Jay Johannigman, MD

2005                                          Division of Otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Investigated the role of Cox-1 and Cox-2 overexpression in the inner ear of a murine model of Meniere’s disease. Mentor:  Daniel Choo, MD