Julian Adin Abrams, MD
On the web
Overview
Julian Abrams, MD is a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and Director of Clinical Research for the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases. He is a specialist in the care of patients with Barrett's esophagus, early esophageal cancer, and other esophageal disorders. His research focus is on risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer, with a particular focus on the role of the oral and esophageal microbiome as disease biomarkers, promoters of neoplasia, and targets for chemoprevention. He also has conducted extensive outcomes research related to endoscopic therapy for Barrett’s esophagus and associated neoplasia.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Esophageal Cancer
- Swallowing Disorder
- Upper Endoscopy
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the Columbia University Medical Center
Administrative Titles
- Director of Clinical Research, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases
- Co-Director, Clinical Biospecimen and Research Core, Columbia University Digestive and Liver Disease Research Center
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
Languages
- Spanish
Gender
- Male
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Virtual Visits/Telehealth
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Phone Appointments
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Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amerigroup of New Jersey
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
Fidelis Care
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- SelectHealth
WellCare
- Medicare Managed Care
- New Jersey Services (Medicaid Managed Care)
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Residency: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
- Fellowship: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
- Member, American Gastroenterological Association
- Member, New York Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Co-Director, T32 Multidisciplinary Training in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Academic Service
2007-present Fellowship Selection Committee, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases
2007-present Full Member, Cancer Epidemiology Program, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University
2006-present Interviewer, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Columbia University Medical Center
2023-present Member, Department of Medicine Clinical and Translational Research Working Group
2023-present Member, Department of Medicine Chair Search Committee
2023-present Member, Department of Medicine Executive Committee
2022-present Director of Clinical Research, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases
2022-present Member, NYSGE Research Committee
2021-present Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee member, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases
2015-present Reviewer, CUMC Dept of Medicine Resident and Fellow Research abstracts
2014-present Member, GI Fellowship CCC Committee
2007-present Fellowship Selection Committee, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases
2007-present Full Member, Cancer Epidemiology Program, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University
2006-present Interviewer, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Columbia University Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Gastroenterology
Honors & Awards
- 2021, Elected to Nominating Committee, AGA Esophageal, Gastric and Duodenal Disorders (EGD) section
- 2013, Irving Scholar Award (Florence Irving Assistant Professor of Medicine, 2013-2016)
- 2009, Gastroenterology Research Group/American Gastroenterological Association Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science
Research
Dr. Abrams is a clinical, epidemiological, and translational researcher with a focus on risk factors for esophageal and other upper gastrointestinal cancers. He obtained a K07 Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute, is a Program Director on a U54 award from the NCI as part of a multicenter consortium to perform translational research in Barrett’s esophagus, and has a R01 assessing an oral microbiome signature to identify patients at risk for esophageal cancer. Dr. Abrams’ current areas of research include: the role of the oral and esophageal microbiome in Barrett’s esophagus and progression to cancer; identification of novel markers of tissue at risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma; novel endoscopic technologies for treatment and imaging of Barrett’s esophagus; predictors of response and recurrence after endoscopic ablation therapy for BE.
Research Interests
- Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Epidemiology, treatment, and prevention of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer
Clinical Trials
Grants
NCI R01 CA272898 Abrams (contact), Wang, Quante (MPI) 9/1/22-8/31/27
The Role of Secondary Bile Acids in Gastro-Esophageal Neoplasia
The goal of this award is to determine how bacterially-produced systemic bile acids impact the GE junction stem cell niche to promote the development of gastro-esophageal neoplasia.
Role: MPI (contact)
NIH/NCI R01CA255298 Abrams (PI) 1/1/21-12/31/25
The Role of the Microbiome and Notch Signaling in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
The goal of this award is to determine whether Notch signaling promotes bacterial interaction with the underlying epithelium in Barrett’s esophagus, thereby promoting the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Role: PI
Selected Publications
- Solfisburg QS, Baldini F, Baldwin-Hunter BL, Lee HH, Park H, Freedberg DE, Lightdale CJ, Korem T, Abrams JA*. The Salivary Microbiome and Predicted Metabolite Production are Associated with Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024 Mar 1;33(3):371-380. PMID: 38117184
- Kunze B, Wein F, Fang HY, Anand A, Baumeister T, Strangmann J, Gerland S, Ingermann, Munch NS, Wiethaler M, Sahm V, Sastre AH, Lange, S, Lightdale CJ, Bokhari A, Falk GW, Friedman RA, Ginsberg GG, Iyer PG, Jin Z, Nakagawa H, Shawber CJ, Nguyen T, Raab WJ, Dalerba , Rustgi AK Sepulveda AR, Wang KK, Schmid RM, Wang TC, Abrams JA*, Quante M*. Notch signaling mediates differentiation in Barrett’s esophagus and promotes progression to adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 2020 Aug;159(2):575-590. PMID: 32325086
- Snider EJ, Compres G, Freedberg DE, Khiabanian H, Nobel YR, Stump S, Uhlemann AC, Lightdale CJ, Abrams JA*. Alterations to the esophageal microbiome associated with progression from Barrett’s esophagus to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2019;28:1687-1693.
- PMC6774849 Grants: NIH/NCI R01 CA272898 Abrams (contact), H Wang, Quante (MPI) The Role of Secondary Bile Acids in Gastro-Esophageal Neoplasia The goal of this award is to determine how bacterially-produced systemic bile acids impact the GE junction stem cell niche to promote the development of gastro-esophageal neoplasia.
- NIH/NCI R01CA238433 Abrams (PI) The Oral Microbiome for Barrett’s Esophagus Detection The goal of this award is to validate an oral microbiome signature associated with Barrett’s esophagus, and to assess the longitudinal stability of the oral microbiome in patients with BE.
- Snider EJ, Freedberg DE, Abrams JA. Potential role of the microbiome in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Dig Dis Sci. 2016 Aug;61(8):2217-2225. PMID: 27068172
- Freedberg DE, Yang YX, Abrams JA. Proton pump inhibitors and myocardial infarction. Gastroenterology. 2015 Oct;149(4):830-3. PMID: 26277262
- Wang JS, Varro A, Lightdale CJ, Letkorwit N, Slack KN, Fingerhood ML, Tsai WY, Wang TC, Abrams JA. Elevated serum gastrin is associated with a history of advanced neoplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Am J Gastroenterol 2010;105:1039-45. PMC3139948
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov