Digestive Diseases Research

Interventional Endoscopy Research

Our research consists of single and more commonly multi-center studies in a variety of areas of interventional endoscopy. Primary areas of interest include Barrett’s esophagus and endoscopic eradication therapy, evaluation and management of pancreatic cysts, cholangioscopy studies, learning curves involved with training in advanced endoscopic procedures, and the safety and efficacy of endoscope reprocessing. Current and future projects include studies on the learning curve for POEM, assessment of novel bariatric therapies, and studies involving new capsule and enteroscopy devices in addition to a variety of projects involving the safety and outcomes of EUS and ERCP.

Key investigators

  • V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS, Director of Endoscopy, UCLA Health System
  • Danny Issa, MD
  • Stephen Kim, MD
  • Alireza Sedarat, MD
  • Adarsh M. Thaker, MD

UCLA collaborators

  • Timothy R. Donahue, MD, Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery

External collaborators

  • Sachin Wani, MD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
  • Sri Komanduri, MD, MS, Northwestern University
  • Janak Shah, MD, Oschner Medical Cener, New Orleans, LA

Funding

  • NCI grant to assess effect of ASA on Barrett's esophagus (BE) recurrence after EET
  • Medtronic industry grant to assess cytosponge in diagnosing BE and dysplasia in patients with known BE and GERD undergoing EGD
  • Boston Scientific industry grant to assess the performance characteristics of a disposable duodenoscope (2019)
  • Industry grant to study wide area transepithelial sampling to diagnose BE and identify dysplasia (2019)

Current research projects

Our research consists of single and more commonly multi-center studies in a variety of areas of interventional endoscopy. Primary areas of interest include Barrett’s esophagus and endoscopic eradication therapy, evaluation and management of pancreatic cysts, cholangioscopy studies, learning curves involved with training in advanced endoscopic procedures, and the safety and efficacy of endoscope reprocessing. Current and future projects include studies on the learning curve for POEM, assessment of novel bariatric therapies, and studies involving new capsule and enteroscopy devices in addition to a variety of projects involving the safety and outcomes of EUS and ERCP.

  • Several studies on endoscope reprocessing
  • International survey on POEM practices
  • Role of EUS in assessing CBD dilation of unknown origin
  • Developing rational surveillance biopsy protocols post EET for BE
  • Role of EUS in assessing pancreatic cysts
  • Quality of endoscopic reports in patients with BE
  • Role of EUS-FNA for assessing indeterminate resectability by radiologic imaging in patients with pancreas cancer who have undergone downstaging chemotherapy
  • Utilization of core biopsy needles in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lesions

Future research directions

  • Pancreatic cyst fluid and tissue repository with assessment of novel biomarkers to diagnose pancreatic solid and cystic neoplasms
  • Assessment of new reprocessing technologies for endoscopes
  • Capsule endoscopy database development and outcomes studies
  • Studies of EUS-guided tissue acquisition using fine needle biopsy and its applications to precision medicine

Key publications

  1. Wani S, Keswani RN, Han S, Aagaard E, Hall M, Simon V, Abidi WM, Banerjee S, Baron TH, Bartel M, Bowman E, Brauer BC, Buscaglia JM, Carlin L, Chak A, Chatrath H, Choudhary A, Confer B, Coté GA, Das KK, DiMaio CJ, Dries AM, Edmundowicz SA, El Chafic AH, El Hajj I, Ellert S, Ferreira J, Gamboa A, Gan IS, Gangarosa L, Gannavarapu B, Gordon SR, Guda NM, Hammad HT, Harris C, Jalaj S, Jowell P, Kenshil S, Klapman J, Kochman ML, Komanduri S, Lang G, Lee LS, Loren DE, Lukens F, Mullady D, Muthusamy RV, Nett AS, Olyaee MS, Pakseresht K, Perera P, Pfau P, Piraka C, Poneros JM, Rastogi A, Razzak A, Riff B, Saligram S, Scheiman JM, Schuster I, Shah RJ, Sharma R, Spaete JP, Singh A, Sohail M, Sreenarasimhaiah J, Stevens T, Tabibian JH, Tzimas D, Uppal D, Urayama S, Vitterbo D, Wang AY, Wassef W, Yachimski P, Zepeda-Gomez S, Zuchelli T, Early D. Competence in Endoscopic Ultrasound and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography, from Training Through Independent Practice(Link is external). Gastroenterology. 2018 Jul 26. pii: S0016-5085(18)34812-1
  2. Rubin ZA, Kim S, Thaker AM, Muthusamy VR. Safely reprocessing duodenoscopes: current evidence and future directions(Link is external). Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Jul;3(7):499-508. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(18)30122-5. Review.PMID: 29893234
  3. Thaker AM, Kim S, Sedarat A, Watson RR, Muthusamy VR. Inspection of endoscope instrument channels after reprocessing using a prototype borescope(Link is external). Gastrointest Endosc. 2018 May 9. pii: S0016-5107(18)32696-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2018.04.2366. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 29753038
  4. Thaker AM, Muthusamy VR, Sedarat A, Watson RR, Kochman ML, Ross AS, Kim S.  Duodenoscope reprocessing practice patterns in U.S. endoscopy centers: a survey study(Link is external). Gastrointest Endosc. 2018 Aug;88(2):316-322.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2018.04.2340. Epub 2018 Apr 21. PMID: 29684387
  5. Komanduri S, Muthusamy VR, Wani S. Controversies in Endoscopic Eradication Therapy for Barrett's Esophagus(Link is external). Gastroenterology. 2018 May;154(7):1861-1875.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.12.045. Epub 2018 Feb 16. Review. PMID: 29458152
  6. Ge PS, Wani S, Watson RR, Sedarat A, Kim S, Marshall C, Wilson RH, Makker J, Mohamadnejad M, Komanduri S, Muthusamy VR. Per-Pass Performance Characteristics of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Malignant Solid Pancreatic Masses in a Large Multicenter Cohort(Link is external). Pancreas. 2018 Mar;47(3):296-301. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000001003. PMID: 29401169
  7. Wani S, Muthusamy VR, McGrath CM, Sepulveda AR, Das A, Messersmith W, Kochman ML, Shah J. AGA White Paper: Optimizing Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Acquisition and Future Direction(Link is external)s. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Mar;16(3):318-327. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.10.020. Epub 2017 Oct 23. No abstract available. PMID: 29074447
  8. Wani S, Keswani R, Hall M, Han S, Ali MA, Brauer B, Carlin L, Chak A, Collins D, Cote GA, Diehl DL, DiMaio CJ, Dries A, El-Hajj I, Ellert S, Fairley K, Faulx A, Fujii-Lau L, Gaddam S, Gan SI, Gaspar JP, Gautamy C, Gordon S, Harris C, Hyder S, Jones R, Kim S, Komanduri S, Law R, Lee L, Mounzer R, Mullady D, Muthusamy VR, Olyaee M, Pfau P, Saligram S, Piraka C, Rastogi A, Rosenkranz L, Rzouq F, Saxena A, Shah RJ, Simon VC, Small A, Sreenarasimhaiah J, Walker A, Wang AY, Watson RR, Wilson RH, Yachimski P, Yang D, Edmundowicz S, Early DS. A Prospective Multicenter Study Evaluating Learning Curves and Competence in Endoscopic Ultrasound and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Among Advanced Endoscopy Trainees: The Rapid Assessment of Trainee Endoscopy Skills Study.(Link is external) Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Jun 16. pii: S1542-3565(17)30718-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.012. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 28625816
  9. Muthusamy VR. Enhanced Reprocessing of Duodenoscopes: Is Doing More Better?(Link is external) Gastroenterology. 2017 Oct;153(4):892-894. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.08.053. Epub 2017 Sep 1. No abstract available. PMID: 28867274
  10. Wani S, Keswani R, Hall M, Han S, Ali MA, Brauer B, Carlin L, Chak A, Collins D, Cote GA, Diehl DL, DiMaio CJ, Dries A, El-Hajj I, Ellert S, Fairley K, Faulx A, Fujii-Lau L, Gaddam S, Gan SI, Gaspar JP, Gautamy C, Gordon S, Harris C, Hyder S, Jones R, Kim S, Komanduri S, Law R, Lee L, Mounzer R, Mullady D, Muthusamy VR, Olyaee M, Pfau P, Saligram S, Piraka C, Rastogi A, Rosenkranz L, Rzouq F, Saxena A, Shah RJ, Simon VC, Small A, Sreenarasimhaiah J, Walker A, Wang AY, Watson RR, Wilson RH, Yachimski P, Yang D, Edmundowicz S, Early DS. A prospective multicenter study evaluating learning curves and competence in endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography among advanced endoscopy trainees: The Rapid Assessment of Trainee Endoscopy Skills Study(Link is external). Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017;S1542-3565(17):30718-8
  11. Wani S, Muthusamy VR, Shaheen NJ, Yadlapati R, Wilson R, Abrams JA, Bergman J, Chak A, Chang K, Das A, Dumot J, Edmundowicz SA, Eisen G, Falk GW, Fennerty MB, Gerson L, Ginsberg GG, Grande D, Hall M, Harnke B, Inadomi J, Jankowski J, Lightdale CJ, Makker J, Odze RD, Pech O, Sampliner RE, Spechler S, Triadafilopoulos G, Wallace MB, Wang K, Waxman I, Komanduri S. Development of Quality Indicators for Endoscopic Eradication Therapies in Barrett's Esophagus: The TREAT-BE (Treatment With Resection and Endoscopic Ablation Techniques for Barrett's Esophagus) Consortium(Link is external). Am J Gastroenterol. 2017 Jul;112(7):1032-1048. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2017.166. Epub 2017 Jun 1. Review. No abstract available. PMID: 28570552
  12. Mohamadnejad M, Mullady D, Early DS, Collins B, Marshall C, Sams S, Yen R, Rizeq M, Romanas M, Nawaz S, Ulusarac O, Hollander T, Wilson RH, Simon VC, Kushnir V, Amateau SK, Brauer BC, Gaddam S, Azar RR, Komanduri S, Shah R, Das A, Edmundowicz S, Muthusamy VR, Rastogi A, Wani S. Increasing Number of Passes Beyond 4 Does Not Increase Sensitivity of Detection of Pancreatic Malignancy by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration(Link is external). Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Jul;15(7):1071-1078.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.12.018. Epub 2016 Dec 23. PMID: 28025154
  13. Lee A, Aditi A, Bhat YM, Binmoeller KF, Hamerski C, Sendino O, Kane S, Cello JP, Day LW, Mohamadnejad M, Muthusamy VR, Watson R, Klapman JB, Komanduri S, Wani S, Shah JN. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary access versus precut papillotomy in patients with failed biliary cannulation: a retrospective study(Link is external). Endoscopy. 2017 Feb;49(2):146-153. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-120995. Epub 2017 Jan 20. PMID: 28107764
  14. Watson RR, Klapman J, Komanduri S, Shah JN, Wani S, Muthusamy R. Wide disparities in attitudes and practices regarding Type II sphincter of Oddi dysfunction: a survey of expert U.S. endoscopists(Link is external). Endosc Int Open. 2016 Sep;4(9):E941-6. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-110789. Epub 2016 Aug 10. PMID: 27652298
  15. Ge PS, Muthusamy VR, Gaddam S, Jaiyeola DM, Kim S, Sedarat A, Donahue TR, Hosford L, Wilson RH, Grande DP, Keswani RN, Kushnir VM, Mullady D, Edmundowicz SA, Early DS, Komanduri S, Wani S, Watson RR. Evaluation of the 2015 AGA guidelines on pancreatic cystic neoplasms in a large surgically confirmed multicenter cohort(Link is external) (Link opens in new window). Endosc Int Open. 2017 Mar;5(3):E201-E208. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-122010. PMID: 28317015
  16. Kim S, Russell D, Mohamadnejad M, Makker J, Sedarat A, Watson RR, Yang S, Hemarajata P, Humphries R, Rubin Z, Muthusamy VR. Risk factors associated with the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae via contaminated duodenoscopes(Link is external). Gastrointest Endosc. 2016 Jun;83(6):1121-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2016.03.790. Epub 2016 Mar 16. PMID: 26993149
  17. Kim S, Hamerski C, Ghassemi K, Shah J, Bhat Y, Klapman J, Komanduri S, Keswani RN, Bidari K, Wani S, Watson RR, Muthusamy VR. The Clinical Utility of Evaluating the Luminal Upper Gastrointestinal Tract During Linear Endoscopic Ultrasonography(Link is external). J Clin Gastroenterol. 2016 Aug;50(7):538-44. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0000000000000434. PMID: 26501879
  18. Muthusamy VR, Kim S, Wallace MB. Advanced Imaging in Barrett's Esophagus(Link is external). Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;44(2):439-58. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2015.02.012. Epub 2015 Mar 24. Review. PMID: 26021204
  19. Ge PS, Muthusamy VR. Endoscopic Mucosal Resection for Barrett's Esophagus(Link is external). J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2017 Apr;27(4):404-411. doi: 10.1089/lap.2016.0532. Epub 2016 Nov 30. PMID: 27901624
  20. Ankeny JS, Court CM, Hou S, Li Q, Song M, Wu D, Chen JF, Lee T, Lin M, Sho S, Rochefort MM, Girgis MD, Yao J, Wainberg ZA, Muthusamy VR, Watson RR, Donahue TR, Hines OJ, Reber HA, Graeber TG, Tseng HR, Tomlinson JS. Circulating tumour cells as a biomarker for diagnosis and staging in pancreatic cancer(Link is external). Br J Cancer. 2016 Jun 14;114(12):1367-75. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2016.121. PMID: 27300108
  21. Ge PS, Gaddam S, Keach JW, Mullady D, Fukami N, Edmundowicz SA, Azar RR, Shah RJ, Murad FM, Kushnir VM, Ghassemi KF, Sedarat A, Watson RR, Amateau SK, Brauer BC, Yen RD, Hosford L, Hollander T, Donahue TR, Schulick RD, Edil BH, McCarter MD, Gajdos C, Attwell AR, Muthusamy VR, Early DS, Wani S. Predictors for Surgical Referral in Patients With Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Undergoing Endoscopic Ultrasound: Results From a Large Multicenter Cohort Study(Link is external). Pancreas. 2016 Jan;45(1):51-7.
  22. Ge PS, Hamerski CM, Watson RR, Komanduri S, Cinnor BB, Bidari K, Klapman JB, Lin CL, Shah JN, Wani S, Donahue TR, Muthusamy VR. Plastic biliary stent patency in patients with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma receiving downstaging chemotherapy(Link is external). Gastrointest Endosc. 2015 Feb;81(2):360-6. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2014.08.020. Epub 2014 Oct 16. PMID: 25442083

Past GI research fellows

  • M. Phillip Feljeh, MD
  • Philip Ge, MD
  • Neal Kaushal, MD, MBA
  • Stephen Kim, MD
  • Neal Marya, MD
  • Mehdi Mohamadnejad, MD
  • Ryan Perumpail, MD
  • Jennifer Phan, MD
  • Adarsh M. Thaker, MD

More information

Interventional endoscopy services website