The Human Virome Program team from UTHealth Houston School of Public in Brownsville includes, from left, Fadi Musfee, MD; Joseph McCormick, MD; Susan Fisher-Hoch, MD; Norma Perez-Olazaran; Rocio Uribe; and Marcela Morris. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

UTHealth Houston and NIH Collaborate on $20M Human Virome Study

Researchers, including a team at UTHealth Houston, have received a $20 million NIH grant to study the human virome. Professor Susan Fisher-Hoch, MD, from UTHealth Houston, will collaborate with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to create the Vanderbilt-coordinated Virus Characterization Center.

The study will explore understudied viruses in the human virome, with cohorts including the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC) and Vanderbilt's Childhood Allergy and the Neonatal Environment - Viruses (CANOE-VU) study. The CCHC, established over 20 years ago by Fisher-Hoch and Professor Joseph McCormick, MD, at the School of Public Health in Brownsville, includes more than 5,000 participants from low-income Hispanic/Latino households along the Texas-Mexico border.

“This is a great honor for us at the School of Public Health in Brownsville and the entire university,” said Fisher-Hoch, whose team received $5 million in funding. “The high level of phenotyping and the multi-omic platform of our cohort will provide an exceptional ability to detect an effect by viruses on human health and disease. We also want to recognize the cohort participants from our community who generously worked with us to achieve this award. This recognition of the critical science that our Hispanic/Latino cohort brings is a great reward for all.”

Multi-omics refers to the research incorporation of data from different “omics,” which together contribute to the molecular mechanisms of health and disease, such as genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. The School of Public Health in Brownsville was chosen as one of six sites of the NIH’s Multi-omics for Health and Disease Consortium.

The research aims to uncover virus impacts on health and develop new therapeutic approaches. Other lead investigators include cardiologist Ravi Shah, MD, professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and epidemiologist Kari North, PhD, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

Introducing Assistant Professor Chelsea Liu, PhD

Please welcome Assistant Professor Chelsea Liu, PhD, to the Department of Epidemiology.

Liu received her Master of Health Science (MHS) in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2020 and her PhD in Population Health Sciences from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2022.

At the School of Public Health in Brownsville, her research will focus on social and environmental risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia in a population living near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Liu's research will be community-centered, engage local stakeholders, and inform policy to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.

New Study Finds Poor Diet Burdens Cancer Survivors

A new study led by Associate Professor Marcia Otto, PhD, reveals that cancer survivors, especially those with oropharyngeal cancer, face a significant burden of poor diet quality. The study, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, involved 300 diverse patients and found their diet quality to be 50% below U.S. Dietary Recommendations.

Conducted with MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, the research highlights the importance of integrating nutrition into cancer care to improve treatment outcomes and survivorship.

The ongoing U-DINE study aims to develop evidence-based dietary programs for cancer patients.

Ramphul Named Scholar for Early Investigator Advancement Program

Assistant Professor Ryan Ramphul, PhD, has been named a Scholar of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Early Investigator Advancement Program (EIAP).

In late 2021, the NCI launched the EIAP to facilitate the advancement of scientists from diverse backgrounds to become independent investigators. EIAP aims to guide the preparation of an R01 grant application, provide access to a mentoring and peer network, enhance professional skills, and grow a community of emerging independent investigators from diverse backgrounds.

"I applied for the EIAP to help me draft an R01 to study the geospatial aspects of early onset gastrointestinal cancers", says Ramphul. "I'm honored to be accepted into this program."

De Moraes Tapped for START Program

Assistant Professor Augusto Ferreira De Moraes, PhD, was accepted as a scholar to the Scientific Training in Addiction Research Techniques (START) program, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the 2025 cohort.

De Moraes will focus on developing and publishing an original research study using ABCD Study data. The program includes structured mentorship, data analysis, and manuscript development and concludes with presenting their findings at the START Dissemination Conference at UCLA in November 2025.

Martins Highlights GoPE!'s Global Efforts to Promote Physical Activity

João Martins, PhD, a Human Kinetics Professor at the University of Lisbon and Chair of GoPE!, recently spoke at the Center for Health Equity meeting during his visit to Houston, where he discussed GoPE!'s mission and activities.

Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!) is a collaborative global network of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the fields of physical education (PE), physical activity (PA), sport, public health, and epidemiology.

Their mission is to monitor quality PE and school-based PA policy, surveillance, and research worldwide, with the ultimate goal of helping more citizens become physically active and healthy. GoPE! is co-chaired by Epidemiology Assistant Professor Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, who also serves as the Managing Director of the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!).

EPIDEMIOLOGY ALUMNUS NEWS

Epidemiology MPH graduate Jesus Duran Ramirez, MPH, has received an American Heart Association predoctoral fellowship for his doctoral thesis research as a student at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research, conducted in the labs of Epidemiology Assistant Professor Jennifer Walker, PhD, and Blake Hanson, PhD, focuses on how microbial adaptation during long-term colonization and infection of the catheterized urinary tract increases the risk of severe diseases such as blood infections, sepsis, and stroke.

The American Heart Association funds the fellowship, with Duran Ramirez as Principal Investigator, Walker as Sponsor, and Hanson as Co-sponsor.

A recent study by Epidemiology PhD graduate Ji Yun Tark, PhD, examined the relationship between protein intake (total and by source) and protein diversity with cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke in 5,879 U.S. adults aged 45–84 over 19 years. Despite some randomized trials suggesting the benefits of protein intake for cardiometabolic health, this study found no significant associations between protein intake or diversity and CVD risk.

These findings indicate that protein consumption, including its diversity, may not significantly impact CVD risk in middle-aged adults. The study was recently published in Nutrients by co-authors Tark and Epidemiology Professor Bing Yu, PhD, and Associate Professor Marcia Otto, PhD, along with Professor Rousha Li, PhD, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Professor Nikhil Padhye, PhD, Cizik School of Nursing and Associate Professor Alexis Wood, PhD, with Baylor College of Medicine.

UPCOMING EVENTS

TEPHI INFECTION PREVENTION

& CONTROL SEMINAR SERIES

Module 301: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections

February 6

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, virtual

In this module, Infection Prevention Practicioner Kayla Ruch, PhD, MPH, will introduce Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) and discuss reduction efforts and patient engagement with CLABSI prevention.

Houston Global Health Collaborative

Abstract Submissions Now Open

Closes February 14

Houston Global Health Collaborative is now accepting abstract submissions for the 13th annual Houston Global Health Conference to be held on April 5. The theme is "Navigating Future Health Challenges Through Innovation".

To submit your abstract, click here.

Student Life & Leadership Fair

Thursday, February 13

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Cooley Center

Join us for our first student life and leadership fair, the combination of multiple SIC spring panels and workshops!

RSVP Form here!

The Cupboard

Student Food Bank

Monday, Feb 3

Thursday, Feb 6

Monday, Feb 10

Thursday, Feb 13

Monday, Feb 17

Thursday, Feb 20

Monday, Feb 24

Thursday, Feb 27

Noon - 3:00 pm

The Cupboard is a no-cost food resource

for students who may

need assistance.

Location: SPH Building, Basement

Email: TheCupboard@uth.tmc.edu

NOTES

Epidemiology Assistant Professor Augusto Ferreira De Moraes, PhD, appeared on Univision Houston News to discuss how better sleep can lower hypertension risk in teens. You can view the clip here.

Stay in the Loop with Epidemiology! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch up with EPI news, events, and more!

Calling all Epidemiology alums! Epi in the News would like to include alum updates and news to feature in our monthly spotlight! Please email Jana Satterwhite, Communications Specialist, to be considered for our upcoming newsletters.

Reminder: For more information on how to handle media requests, see the UTHealth Houston HOOP policy here. If you are contacted by the media, please call the UTHealth Houston Media Relations team on the hotline, 713-500-3030 - someone is available 24/7. Deb Lake is the designated School of Public Health contact. Always choose to call the hotline for immediate assistance.

SUBMISSIONS AND NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

All campuses are encouraged to submit items for consideration for the monthly Epi newsletter. Please feel free to submit your items to sphepi@uth.tmc.edu.