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

Internal Medicine Board Certification

ABIM

Medical Oncology Board Certification

ABIM

Professional Statement

I am an oncologist and Instructor in Medicine in the Section of Hematology and Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. I treat gastroesophageal cancer patients and study these cancers and their precursor conditions in the research lab. My academic training and research experience have provided me with the fundamental tools and background to succeed as an independent physician scientist. As an undergraduate, I was introduced to laboratory science and worked on the role of the gene, CFTR, in metabolic and hormonal regulation. I became interested in the transcriptional regulation of secretory acinar cell differentiation in the stomach as a predoctoral MSTP student. My decision to become an oncologist was also shaped during my PhD research time when a close graduate student colleague, Greg Sibbel, passed away from an aggressive form of Ewing’s sarcoma. 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 poor, reflecting a lack of 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. During this time, I have developed new genetic mouse models and human organoid systems to study gastroesophageal cancers and their pre-malignant precursor metaplastic lesions (e.g., Barrett’s esophagus). To fully understand the molecular heterogeneity of these pathologies, I have implemented an integrative multi-omics approach to study these murine and organoid models. I plan to gain essential technical knowledge from my mentorship committee consisting of Drs. Cristian Ciorfa (for integration of genomic and transcriptomic data), Bing Zhang (for analysis of proteogenomic data), Kunal Rai (for CUT&Tag and epigenomic studies), and Sarah Blutt (for technical assistance with organoid modeling). Within this framework of career development and mentorship, I will study the effects of the transcription factors SOX2 and CDX2 during Barrett’s esophagus development. I believe that the depth and breadth of my basic science training combined with my clinical expertise will allow me to become a leader in the field of gastrointestinal oncology. My studies will elucidate the heterogeneity and molecular subtypes of upper GI metaplasias and neoplasias to provide potential new therapeutic targets.

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
• "Molecular pathogenesis, targeted therapies, and future perspectives for gastric cancer.." ;

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