Email

ramon.jin@bcm.edu

Positions

Instructor

Medicine-Hematology & Oncology
Baylor College of Medicine

Addresses

One Baylor Plaza (Lab)

Houston, TX 77030
United States

Education

BS from Case Western Reserve Univeristy

05/2006 - Cleveland

MD-PhD from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

05/2015 - St. Louis

Internship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital

06/2016 - St. Louis

Residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital

06/2017 - St. Louis

Clinical Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

06/2021 - St. Louis

Postdoctoral Training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis/Baylor College of Medicine

St. Louis/Houston

Certifications

Medical Oncology Board Certification

ABIM

Internal Medicine Board Certification

ABIM

Professional Statement

I intend to combine my background in basic science with my clinical experience to explore gastrointestinal cancer from a novel perspective, and to directly translate these discoveries to new therapeutics. My academic training and research experience have provided me with the fundamental tools and background to succeed. As an undergraduate, I developed an interest in cell biology and genetics. During this time, I worked on the role of the gene, CFTR, in metabolic and hormonal regulation, and was able to master basic molecular techniques and mouse genetics. As a predoctoral MD/PhD student, my work focused on developmental biology and the transcriptional regulation of cell development. I was able to show that in secretory acinar cells, a single transcription factor, MIST1, directly activates a subset of effector genes. Included in these targets are RAB26 and RAB3D, small protein GTPases that function in vesicle trafficking to allow cells to change shape and function. From this experience, I was able to publish several first author papers, present my work at national meetings, and most importantly expand my knowledgebase in molecular cell biology, bioinformatics, stem cell biology, and developmental biology. My research experience has been complemented by my medical training during medical school, internal medicine residency, and hematology-oncology fellowship. For my postdoctoral training, I have applied my previous experience in genetics, cell biology, and developmental biology to upper gastrointestinal malignancies. Survival in gastric and esophageal cancers is still poor, and surgery and chemoradiotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. The lack of novel targeted therapies with improved treatment efficacy and less off target toxicities reflects a need for further understanding about the pathogenesis of these diseases. My research mentor, Dr. Jason Mills, is an internationally recognized leader in the field of gastrointestinal development and stem cell biology. He has an extensive record for training postdoctoral fellows and physician scientists. Our proposed research will develop new disease models including genetic mouse models and human organoid systems to study gastroesophageal cancers and their pre-malignant precursor intestinal metaplasia (i.e. Barrett’s esophagus) lesions. In addition, I am interested in the injury response of the upper GI tract to chronic inflammation, and the mechanisms by which these processes including autophagy, selective apoptosis, and protein stress response induce carcinogenesis. From the knowledge gained through my benchside research, I plan to initiate translational human upper GI cancer clinical trials to target novel pathways. My work will elucidate basic and therapeutically relevant principles of upper GI cancers from genetic, developmental, and cell biological perspectives. I believe that the depth and breadth of my basic science training combined with my expanding clinical expertise will allow me to become a leader in the field of gastrointestinal oncology.

Selected Publications

• Jin RU, Mills JC. "Are Gastric and Esophageal Metaplasia Relatives? The Case for Barrett's Stemming from SPEM.." Dig Dis Sci.. 2018 Aug; Pubmed PMID: 29948563
• Spatz LB, Jin RU, Mills JC "Cellular plasticity at the nexus of development and disease.." Development. 2021 Feb; Pubmed PMID: 33547203
• Park H, Jin RU, Wang-Gillam A, Suresh R, Rigden C, Amin M, Tan BR, Pedersen KS, Lim KH, Trikalinos NA, Acharya A, Copsey ML, Navo KA, Morton AE, Gao F, Lockhart AC. "FOLFIRINOX for the Treatment of Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancers: A Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.." JAMA Oncol. 2020 Aug; Pubmed PMID: 32469386
• Jin RU, Mills JC. "The cyclical hit model: how paligenosis might establish the mutational landscape in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.." Curr Opin Gastroenterol.. 2019 Jul; Pubmed PMID: 31021922

Funding

The Role of SOX2 in Barrett's Esophagus Development and Progression to Esophageal - Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Career Development Award - #W81XWH-20-PRCRP-CDA

$400,000.00 (07/01/2021 - 06/30/2024)

Grant funding from Department of Defense

The Role of SOX2 in Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma - ASCO 2021 Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award - #2021YIA-8674301298

$50,000.00 (07/01/2021 - 06/30/2022)

Grant funding from ASCO

The Role of UBE2C in Barrett’s Esophagus and Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma - Developmental Research Program Award - #U54 CA163060

$40,000.00 (05/01/2021 - 04/30/2022)

Grant funding from Barrett’s Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet) - NIH NCI