Ruth Ann Luna, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

raluna@bcm.edu

Associate Professor: Pathology & Immunology
Texas Children's Microbiome Center
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX, US

Director of Medical Metagenomics: Pathology
Texas Children's Microbiome Center
Texas Children's Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States

PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University: 01/2010 - Richmond, Virginia, United States; Clinical Laboratory Sciences

MS from University Of Texas Medical School At Houston: 01/2003 - Houston, Texas, United States; Health Informatics

BS from Texas A & M University: 12/1998 - College Station, Texas, United States; Genetics

VIICTR Publications List

Luna RA, Savidge TC, Williams K.. " The brain-gut-microbiome axis: What role does it play in autism spectrum disorder?. " Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2016 ; (3) : 75-81.
Luna RA, Boyanton BL, Mehta S, Courtney EM, Webb CR, Revell PA, Versalovic J. " Rapid Stool-Based Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection by Real-Time PCR in a Children's Hospital. " J. Clin. Microbiol.. 2011 Mar ; 49 (3) : 851-7.
Pubmed PMID: 21209161.
Luna RA, Millecker LA, Webb CR, Mason SK, Whaley EM, Starke JR, Hiatt PW, Versalovic J. " Molecular Epidemiological Surveillance of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates in a Pediatric Population of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Determination of Risk Factors for Infection with the Houston-1 Strain. " J. Clin. Microbiol.. 2013 Apr ; 51 (4) : 1237-40.
Pubmed PMID: 23303498.
Luna RA, Foster JA.. " Gut brain axis: Diet microbiota interactions and implications for modulation of anxiety and depression. " Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2014 Nov 21; (32) : 35-41.
Luna RA, Fasciano LR, Jones SC, Boyanton BL, Ton TT, Versalovic J. " DNA pyrosequencing-based bacterial pathogen identification in a pediatric hospital setting. " J. Clin. Microbiol.. 2007 Sep ; 45 (9) : 2985-92.
Pubmed PMID: 17652476.

Identifying Biomarkers of GI Morbidity in ASD: Linking Multi-Omics and Human Behavior #9455: $1,340,681.00 (12/01/2014 - 11/30/2017); Grant funding from Autism Speaks; The goal of this study is to identify specific biomarkers and multi-omic profiles associated with ASD phenotypes related to clinical, gastrointestinal, and behavioral characteristics. These profiles will facilitate further advancement in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of GI symptoms in ASD.