Fulbright women in STEM: Mary Ajamian, Gastroenterology

Mary Ajamian (pictured) recently completed a Fulbright fellowship in Central Clinical School's Department of Gastroenterology. She enjoyed the experience so much that she is returning to us as a PhD student - welcome Mary!

See her Fulbright Women in STEM story, and her latest research listed in PubMed, on inflammatory markers in Lyme disease and in a different patient population, those reporting sensitivity to wheat.

Mary Ajamian Fulbright scholar with Gastroenterology Department

Mary Ajamian running a Zonulin assay.
She is seeking clinical trial participants

Mary Ajamian is a visiting Fulbright scholar with the CCS Department of Gastroenterology.  She is investigating the mechanisms behind the neurobehavioural effects of gluten. She recently presented at a Fulbright Presentation Event, where scholars had the chance to meet Australian as well as American leaders, celebrate their accomplishments, and present their research to the community. 

Participants sought : Zonulin study to measure gut 'leakiness'

Mary Ajamian running a Zonulin assay

Zonulin is a protein involved in gut leakiness. It is measured in different groups with gastrointestinal dysfunction (e.g. NCGS, CD, IBD) as well as in normal healthy individuals. 

50 normal healthy participants are needed for the analysis. We need to collect 2 tubes of blood (approx. 17.5 mL) after refraining from eating gluten for at least 3 hours. It would be ideal to collect blood under fasting conditions (i.e. overnight fast, collection upon arrival at work), though a morning coffee or tea should be fine.

Selection criteria:

1. You are in a good state of health with no pre-existing diagnoses of gastrointestinal disease or abnormalities, liver disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
2. You do not have evidence of ongoing, active infection and your immune system is healthy.
3. You are between the ages of 18 and 65.
4. You do not believe that you have a sensitivity to gluten and are not on a gluten-free diet.
5. You are capable of refraining from the consumption of gluten for three hours prior to a blood test.

Contact

Ms Mary Ajamian
Email: mary.ajamian@monash.edu

Phone: 9903 0165
Website : www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/clin-trials/ct-ajamian.html

Welcome to Fulbright scholar, Mary Ajamian, in Dept of Gastroenterology

Ms Mary Ajamian, Fulbright scholar,
Department of Gastroenterology, CCS.
Photo: Alex Bogatyrev

Welcome to Mary Ajamian, a visiting Fulbright scholar from Columbia University, USA, being hosted by the Department of Gastroenterology.

Mary’s Fulbright project will investigate gluten and casein’s role in the neurobehavioral and extra-intestinal symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Mary will perform immunoassay-based experiments as well as analyze data from experimental dietary and drug interventions conducted by Dr. Peter Gibson, MD and Dr. Jane Muir, PhD ‘s team at Monash University Central Clinical School/The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Mary’s Fulbright experience will allow her to continue exorphins-related research that she started for her master’s thesis as well as connect two leading research groups at the forefront of characterizing an emerging disease entity.

Similar to the US, Australia experiences a deficit of women in STEM fields, especially at higher levels of academic or institutional seniority. Australian students of indigenous descent also experience difficulties. As part of her community engagement, Mary seeks to mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly female students and those of indigenous descent.

Mary can be contacted at mary.ajamian@gmail.com.