BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
NAME
POSITION TITLE
BESWICK, ELLEN J.
Assistant Professor
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
ejbeswic
EDUCATION/TRAINING
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
DEGREE
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
BS
1993-1996
Biology
Southern Illinois University Springfield, IL
Microbiology and Immunology
Ph.D.
1997-2002
Immunology
University of Texas Medical Branch,
Postdoc
2002- 2007 Microbiology and Immunology
Galveston, TX
A. Personal Statement
The goal of my research program is to examine several novel inflammatory pathways in gastric and colon
cancer development that can be targeted in development of new therapeutics. I examine the interplay
between stromal myofibroblasts and immune cells, which leads to tumor growth and metastasis. As a New
Investigator, I am qualified to be a participating faculty member of the UNM Cancer Center for the following
reasons: 1) I was awarded a K22 career development award and an ACS Research Scholar Grant with which
I have set up an independent laboratory, and managed budgets and personnel. 2) My previous training
focused on chronic inflammation, H. pylori infection, T cell immunology, and gastric cancer. 3) I have
developed methods to process human tissues for primary culture and analyze CD4+ T cell phenotype
differentiation and development and to examine pro-carcinogenic events. 4) I have developed collaborations
with surgical oncologists in the Cancer Center members to develop new translational approaches in
gastrointestinal pathology. 5) As a faculty member in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
and the Clinical and Translational Sciences Center, I have an established support system including mentors,
collaborators, and access to the resources of both. My long term goal is to be an expert in gastrointestinal
inflammatory diseases, T cell immunology, and the links between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. I
have a successful track record of productive research, funding, resources, and institutional support to
successfully complete the proposed studies.
B. Positions and Honors:
Positions
08/1994 – 04/1996 Laboratory Assistant, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL.
08/1997 – 07/1998 Instructor, English for Medicine, Kawasaki City, Japan.
07/1998 – 05/1999 Teaching Assistant, Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale, IL.
06/2001 – 05/2002 Research Assistant, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Southern Illinois
University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.
07/2002 – 09/2007 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, TX.
10/2007 – 01/2008 Instructor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
02/2008 – 08/2009 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Galveston, TX.
09/2009 – present
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of
New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM.
Honors
1993 – 1996
Dean's Honor List, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
1993 – 1996
Florida Southern College Presidential Scholarship
1993
Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society
1993 – 1996
Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society
1994
LEAD Award, Florida Southern College
1994 – 1996
Omicron Kappa Delta Leadership Honors Society
2001
Illinois Combined Research Symposium. Second Place Award
2003
Digestive Disease Week American Gastroenterological Association Poster of Distinction
2004
Digestive Disease Week American Gastroenterological Association Poster of Distinction
2005
Digestive Disease Week American Gastroenterological Association Poster of Distinction
2005
2006
2008
2009
2009
2011
2012
McLaughlin Award for Excellence in Infection and Immunity Postdoctoral Research
McLaughlin Award for Excellence in Infection and Immunity Postdoctoral Research
Researcher of the Month for April, University of Texas Medical Branch
AGA Academic Skills Workshop Travel Award Recipient
AAI Junior Faculty Travel Award Recipient
AAI Junior Faculty Travel Award Recipient
Translational Sciences 2012 Scholar Award
C. Selected peer-reviewed publications (selected from 24):
1. Beswick, E.J., D.A. Bland, G. Suarez, C.A. Barrera, X.J. Fan, and V.E. Reyes. Helicobacter pylori binds to
CD74 on gastric epithelial cells and stimulates Interleukin-8 production. Infect Immun 2005; 73:2736-43.
2. Beswick, E.J., S. Das, I.V. Pinchuk, P. Adegboyega, G. Suarez, Y. Yamaoka, and V.E. Reyes.
Helicobacter pylori induced IL-8 production by gastric epithelial cells upregulates CD74 expression. J
Immunol 2005; 175:171-6.
3. Beswick, E.J., I.V. Pinchuk, K. Minch, G. Suarez, J.C. Sierra, Y. Yamaoka, and V.E. Reyes. Helicobacter
pylori urease B subunit binds to CD74 on gastric epithelial cells and induces NF-κB activation and IL-8
production. Infect Immun 2006; 74:1148-55.
4. Das, S., G. Suarez, E.J. Beswick, J.C. Sierra, and V. E. Reyes. Expression of B7-H1 on gastric epithelial
cells: its potential role in regulating T Cells during Helicobacter Pylori infection. J Immunol 2006; 176:30009.
5. Beswick, E.J., I.V. Pinchuk, G. Suarez, J. C. Sierra, and V. E. Reyes. Helicobacter pylori CagAdependent MIF produced by gastric epithelial cells binds to CD74 and stimulates pro-carcinogenic
events. J Immunol 2006; 176: 6794-6801.
6. Lu, H., J.Y. Wu, T. Ohno, E.J. Beswick, V.E. Reyes, R. Haas, M. Kita, D.Y. Graham, and Y. Yamaoka.
Functional and intracellular signaling differences associated with the Helicobacter pylori AlpAB adhesin
from Western and East Asian strains. J Biol Chem 2007; 282(9):6242-6254.
7. Pinchuk, I.V., E.J. Beswick, J.I. Saada, G. Suarez, J. Winston, P.A., Adegboyega, R.C. Mifflin, D.W.
Powell, and V.E. Reyes. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production by intestinal myofibroblasts in
response to staphylococcal enterotoxin a: relevance to staphylococcal enterotoxigenic disease J. Immunol
2007; 178:8097-106.
8. Beswick, E.J., I.V. Pinchuk, S. Das, D.W. Powell, and V.E. Reyes. Expression of the programmed death
ligand 1, B7-H1, on gastric epithelial cells after Helicobacter pylori exposure promotes development of
CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. Infect Immun 2007; 75: 4334-41. PMCID: PMC1951191.
9. Pinchuk, I.V., Saada, J.I., Beswick, E.J. Boya, G. Qiu, S.M., Mifflin, R.C., Raju, G.S., Reyes, V.E., and
Powell, D.W. PD-1 ligand expression by human colonic myofibroblasts/fibroblasts regulates CD4+ T cell
activity. Gastroenterology 2008;138: 1228-1237. PMCID: PMC2584612.
10. Beswick, E.J. and V.E. Reyes. MIF and IL-8 produced by gastric epithelial cells during Helicobacter pylori
exposure induce expression and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Infect Immun 2008; 76:
3233-40. PMCID: PMC2446686.
11. Beswick, E.J. and V.E. Reyes. CD74 in antigen presentation, inflammation, and cancers of the
gastrointestinal tract. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15: 2855-61. PMCID: PMC2699002.
12. Pinchuk, I.V., Beswick, E.J., Saada, J.I., Boya, G., Schmitt, D.A., Raju, G.S., Brenmoehl, J., Rogler, G.,
Reyes, V.E., and D.W. Powell. Human colonic myofobroblasts promote the expansion of
CD4+CD25highFoxP3+ regulatory T cells. Gastroenterology. 2011 140: 2019-30. PMCID: PMC3109194.
13. Beswick, E.J., Pinchuk, I.V., Earley, R.B., Schmitt, D.A., and V.E. Reyes. The Role of Gastric Epithelial
Cell-Derived TGF-{beta} in Reduced CD4+ T Cell Proliferation and Development of Regulatory T Cells
during Helicobacter pylori Infection. Infect Immun 2011; 79: 2737-45. PMCID: PMC3191950.
14. Ihan A, Pinchuk IV, and Beswick EJ. Inflammation, Immunology, and Vaccines for Helicobacter pylori
Infection. Helicobacter 2012, 7 S1:16-21. PMCID: PMC3535431.
15. Pinchuk, I.V., Morris, K.T., Nofchissey, R.A., Earley, R.B, Wu, J.Y., Ma, T.Y., and E.J. Beswick. Stromal
Cells Induce Th17 during Helicobacter pylori Infection and in the Gastric Tumor Microenvironment.
PLoSONE 2013; 8:53798-53809. PMCID: PMC3554710.
D. Research Support
Ongoing Research Support:
RSG-10-159-01-LIB
Beswick (PI)
07/01/10-06/30/14
American Cancer Society
Cytokine-mediated link between infection, chronic inflammation and cancer
The goal of this grant is to determine the chronic inflammatory pathways induced by H. pylori that play a role in
the early stages of gastric carcinogenesis.
Role: PI
CCFA
Reyes (PI)
07/01/10-06/30/13
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
The role of altered B7-homologue expression by ISEMFs in IBD.
The goal of this grant is to understand how alteration in expression of the B-7 molecules on colonic stromal
cells in the human colonic mucosa and murine model, modulate the helper T lymphocyte responses during
inflammatory bowel disease.
Role: Co-I
Completed Research Support
1UL1RR031977-01
Larson (PI)
09/01/11-8/31/12
Multi-institutional Collaborative CTSA Pilot Award
The role of CD90+ colonic stromal cells in Th1/Th17 activity in Crohn’s Disease
The goal of this pilot award is to examine the effects of subepithelial myofibroblast induction of Th1 and Th17
CD4+ cell phenotypes in Crohn’s Disease.
Role: Pilot Project PI
1UL1RR031977-01
Larson (PI)
04/01/11-03/31/12
UNM CTSC Pilot Award
The Role of Th17 in Gastric Cancer
The goal of this pilot award is to examine mechanisms of Th17 induction and promotion of pro-carcinogenic
signaling in gastric carcinogenesis.
Role: Pilot Project PI
1R56DK090090-01
Reyes (PI)
09/30/10-09/29/11
NIDDK/NIH
Immune Evasion by H. pylori
Our goal is to define how Helicobacter pylori (Hp) impairs the host’s immune response to establish a lifelong
infection.
Role: Co-I
1R56AI085474-01A1
Reyes (PI)
08/02/10-07/31/11
NIAID/NIH
Colonic Myofibroblast Activation of PD-1 Pathways in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
The goal of this project is to understand how the alteration of PD-1 signals imparted by colonic myofibroblasts
contribute to the progression of chronic GI inflammation.
Role: Co-I
K22AI068712-01A2
Beswick (PI)
04/01/08-03/31/11
NIAID/NIH
Potential Role of H. pylori-Induced MIF in Gastric Cancer
These studies will provide valuable insight into cell signaling and responses that are crucial in both inflammation
and the development of gastric cancer.
Role: PI
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Turley (PI)
A Single Center, Double Blind, Randomized,
Escalating Dose-Ranging Study to Investigate
01/01/07 – 8/30/09
the Safety and Immunogenicity of the VAX102 Influenza Vaccine in Healthy Adults
Role: Co-I
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Roberts (PI)
08/01/03-07/31/06
NIH/NIAID T32 AI07536
Training in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases.
Role: Trainee