Funded Project List
Human Microbiomics Project
Gut Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer Risk (Funded by NIH, PI: Ahn/Yang)
Our hypothesis is that gut microbiome profiles are associated with risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Altered gut microbiome may promote colorectal carcinogenesis by inducing chronic inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease, a well-established risk factor for CRC. Also, gut microbiota may be related to CRC risk by metabolizing food components, such as carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. We are comprehensively surveying gut microbiota from the fecal biospecimens by 16S rRNA sequencing in a colorectal cancer case-control study and we are comparing the derived gut microbial profiles between CRC cases and controls.
Oral Microbiome and Pancreatic Cancer Risk (Funded by AACR, PI: Ahn)
Inflammatory processes are believed to be important in pancreas carcinogenesis, yet the specific causes are poorly understood. We hypothesize that the oral microbiome potentiates pancreas carcinogenesis, by inflammation in the pancreas microenvironment. We are examining if the oral microbiome is associated with risk of pancreatic cancer in a large prospective study and evaluate in situ bacterial relationships in the pancreas. The ultimate goal is to identify specific oral bacteria in the general population that may be managed to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Oral Microbiome and upper Aerodigestive cancer risk (Funded by NIH, PI: Hayes/Pei)
The main goal of our study is to prospectively relate the oral microbiome in healthy subjects to subsequent risk of UADSCC. We hypothesize that microorganisms in the oral cavity potentiate UADSC carcinogenesis, potentially related to alcohol and tobacco use, the major known risk factors. We are conducting a nested case control study within two large population based cohorts. We will characterize common oral microbial species by sequencing the 16S rRNA microbial genes in prospectively collected pre-diagnostic oral wash samples and relate the derived microbial profiles to subsequent risk of UADSCC.
Oral Microbiome and Cardiovascular Disease Center (Funded by NYUAD, PI: Ahn/Hayes)
We propose an innovative hypothesis to test whether specific oral microbiome species composition potentiates the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown excess CVD risks in subjects with periodontal disease, a highly prevalent condition caused by oral bacteria. A spectrum of oral bacteria are found in vascular atherosclerotic plaques and in blood after meals and tooth brushing, potentially playing an important role in atherosclerosis-related vascular inflammation. We will comprehensively examine the role of human oral microbiome, the totality of oral bacteria, in preclinical CVD in the NYU Abu Dhabi Cohort.
Human Genomics Project
Genome wide gene expression and prostate cancer survival (Funded by DOD, PI: Ahn)
The advent of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to earlier detection of prostate cancer, but approximately 20-30% of men diagnosed with clinicallylocalized disease will have a recurrence and progress to metastaticdisease within 10 years. Considering the frequency in the U.S. of prostate cancer diagnosis and high mortality rate, and our limited ability to predict clinical course, molecular approaches are urgently needed to predict tumor characteristics, including propensity for prostate cancer to recur. Our hypothesis is that mRNA gene expression profile plays an important role in shaping phenotypic inter-individual differences in tumor behavior related to prostate cancer prognosis. We prospectively examine the association of genome-wide gene expression profiles from FFPE tissue, using cDNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension and Ligation (DASL) technology, in relation to cancer prognosis (PSA recurrence and systemic progression), in a nested case-control study within three existing prostate cancer patient follow up cohorts. We will identify genes associated with prostate cancer recurrence and systemic progression.
Translating Verified Genetic Determinants of Prostate Cancer to Clinically Relevant Predictors (Funded by NIH, PI: Ahn/Hayes)
Recent genome-wide association studies reveal strong evidence that novel common gene variants in MSMB, CDH13, HNF1B, CPNE3, and CTBP2 influence the risk of developing prostate cancer. We hypothesize that altered levels of these proteins in prostate tumor tissue are related to prostate cancer aggressiveness at diagnosis and risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy. We will determine if prostate tissue expression of proteins that are the products of the candidate genes identified in recent genome-wide association studies (MSMB, CDH13, HNF1B, CPNE3, and CTBP2), are associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness and recurrence, and therefore could serve as predictors of adverse clinical outcomes in a nested case-control study (n=400 PSA recurrent cases [including 200 systemic progressors and 200 non-progressors] and n=400 non-PSA recurrent controls).
Gut Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer Risk (Funded by NIH, PI: Ahn/Yang)
Our hypothesis is that gut microbiome profiles are associated with risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Altered gut microbiome may promote colorectal carcinogenesis by inducing chronic inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease, a well-established risk factor for CRC. Also, gut microbiota may be related to CRC risk by metabolizing food components, such as carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. We are comprehensively surveying gut microbiota from the fecal biospecimens by 16S rRNA sequencing in a colorectal cancer case-control study and we are comparing the derived gut microbial profiles between CRC cases and controls.
Oral Microbiome and Pancreatic Cancer Risk (Funded by AACR, PI: Ahn)
Inflammatory processes are believed to be important in pancreas carcinogenesis, yet the specific causes are poorly understood. We hypothesize that the oral microbiome potentiates pancreas carcinogenesis, by inflammation in the pancreas microenvironment. We are examining if the oral microbiome is associated with risk of pancreatic cancer in a large prospective study and evaluate in situ bacterial relationships in the pancreas. The ultimate goal is to identify specific oral bacteria in the general population that may be managed to prevent pancreatic cancer.
Oral Microbiome and upper Aerodigestive cancer risk (Funded by NIH, PI: Hayes/Pei)
The main goal of our study is to prospectively relate the oral microbiome in healthy subjects to subsequent risk of UADSCC. We hypothesize that microorganisms in the oral cavity potentiate UADSC carcinogenesis, potentially related to alcohol and tobacco use, the major known risk factors. We are conducting a nested case control study within two large population based cohorts. We will characterize common oral microbial species by sequencing the 16S rRNA microbial genes in prospectively collected pre-diagnostic oral wash samples and relate the derived microbial profiles to subsequent risk of UADSCC.
Oral Microbiome and Cardiovascular Disease Center (Funded by NYUAD, PI: Ahn/Hayes)
We propose an innovative hypothesis to test whether specific oral microbiome species composition potentiates the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown excess CVD risks in subjects with periodontal disease, a highly prevalent condition caused by oral bacteria. A spectrum of oral bacteria are found in vascular atherosclerotic plaques and in blood after meals and tooth brushing, potentially playing an important role in atherosclerosis-related vascular inflammation. We will comprehensively examine the role of human oral microbiome, the totality of oral bacteria, in preclinical CVD in the NYU Abu Dhabi Cohort.
Human Genomics Project
Genome wide gene expression and prostate cancer survival (Funded by DOD, PI: Ahn)
The advent of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to earlier detection of prostate cancer, but approximately 20-30% of men diagnosed with clinicallylocalized disease will have a recurrence and progress to metastaticdisease within 10 years. Considering the frequency in the U.S. of prostate cancer diagnosis and high mortality rate, and our limited ability to predict clinical course, molecular approaches are urgently needed to predict tumor characteristics, including propensity for prostate cancer to recur. Our hypothesis is that mRNA gene expression profile plays an important role in shaping phenotypic inter-individual differences in tumor behavior related to prostate cancer prognosis. We prospectively examine the association of genome-wide gene expression profiles from FFPE tissue, using cDNA-mediated Annealing, Selection, extension and Ligation (DASL) technology, in relation to cancer prognosis (PSA recurrence and systemic progression), in a nested case-control study within three existing prostate cancer patient follow up cohorts. We will identify genes associated with prostate cancer recurrence and systemic progression.
Translating Verified Genetic Determinants of Prostate Cancer to Clinically Relevant Predictors (Funded by NIH, PI: Ahn/Hayes)
Recent genome-wide association studies reveal strong evidence that novel common gene variants in MSMB, CDH13, HNF1B, CPNE3, and CTBP2 influence the risk of developing prostate cancer. We hypothesize that altered levels of these proteins in prostate tumor tissue are related to prostate cancer aggressiveness at diagnosis and risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy. We will determine if prostate tissue expression of proteins that are the products of the candidate genes identified in recent genome-wide association studies (MSMB, CDH13, HNF1B, CPNE3, and CTBP2), are associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness and recurrence, and therefore could serve as predictors of adverse clinical outcomes in a nested case-control study (n=400 PSA recurrent cases [including 200 systemic progressors and 200 non-progressors] and n=400 non-PSA recurrent controls).
