Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Co-director, Ertan Digestive Diseases Center Visiting Professor of Medicine University of Texas McGovern Medical School Houston, TX Brooks D. Cash, MD, is the Chief of the Gastroenterology Division at UT Health Science Center and Co-director of the Ertan Digestive Disease Center at Memorial Herman. He holds the rank of Visiting Professor of Medicine at UT McGovern Medical School as well as Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Board certified in Gastroenterology, his professional excellence has resulted in his election to fellowship in the American College of Physicians, the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. A native Houstonian, Dr. Cash served for 24 years in the US Navy, retiring in 2013 at the rank of Navy Captain. While in the Navy he served as Chief of Gastroenterology, Chief of Medicine, and Deputy Commander for Medicine at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His clinical duties included Gastroenterology Consultant to the US Navy Surgeon General, Attending Physician to Congress, and White House Medical Unit. Prior to joining UT in 2018 he was Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. A recognized international expert in the field of irritable bowel syndrome and other functional gastrointestinal disorders, he has chaired numerous professional society committees and meetings. Dr. Cash has served on the Rome Committee for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and has authored over 200 articles and book chapters on a wide variety of gastrointestinal topics to include irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation, opioid induced constipation, colorectal cancer screening, CT colonography, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett’s esophagus, medical education techniques, and evidence-based medicine. Active in clinical research and education, he is an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Gastroenterology, an editorial board member and reviewer for multiple internal medicine and gastroenterology medical journals, and is a sought-after lecturer at national and international scientific meetings.

Established in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is Houston’s Health University and Texas’ resource for health care education, innovation, scientific discovery and excellence in patient care. The most comprehensive academic health center in the UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, UTHealth is home to schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry, nursing and public health and the John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School. UTHealth includes The University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center, as well as the growing clinical practices UT Physicians, UT Dentists and UT Health Services. The university’s primary teaching hospitals are Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. As a comprehensive health science university, the mission of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences, and model the best practices in clinical care and public health. We pursue this mission in order to advance the quality of human life by enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease and injury, as well as promoting individual health and community well-being.

 Barrett's Esophagus Study (BEST) Trial - a Multi-Center and Endoscopic Outcomes Project

This trial is a multi-center clinical and endoscopic outcomes project involving a single large database of patients with Barrett's Esophagus (BE). The initial goal of this project is to define the incidence and prevalence of cancer and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in patients with BE. Thus, our hypothesis is that systematic collection of data on the natural history of BE and risk factors for progression of BE will provide useful information to develop a decision model for risk stratification and risk reduction strategies in BE.

Estimated Enrollment: 2500
Study Start Date: November 2007
Estimated Study Completion Date: November 2017
Estimated Primary Completion Date: November 2017 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 80 Years
Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
Testing Method: Probability Sample

 High Resolution Optical Imaging of the Esophagus Using the NvisionVLE™ Imaging System Registry

This is a prospective, multi-site registry with longitudinal follow up for patients undergoing EGD or endoscopy. The primary objective is to provide a collection of patient NvisionVLE™ procedural data for participating physicians, including, but not limited to, imaging data, clinical utility data, demographics, pathology, treatment, and surveillance.

Up to 1000 patients from up to 20 sites nationwide.

There are no protocol defined follow up visits. Patients will undergo an initial baseline Volumetric Laser Endomicroscopy (VLE) procedure. A patient with a negative screening examination may not require additional screening endoscopies. For patients with established disease, further surveillance endoscopies will vary based on the extent of the disease (e.g. every 3 months, every 6 months, annual), which is based on the following American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guideline: the role of endoscopy in the surveillance of premalignant conditions of the upper GI tract. If patients have additional VLE procedures during the enrollment period, associated data will be collected.

Estimated Enrollment: 1000
Study Start Date: July 2014
Estimated Primary Completion Date: November 2015 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample