Otolaryngology & Communication Sciences

Nikki Johnston, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Research
Department of Otolaryngology & Communication Sciences   

Dr. Johnston’s research laboratory aims to test pepsin, as a marker for reflux, in clinical tissue and secretion samples from patients with diseases of the upper airway, demonstrate the effect of nonacid pepsin on respiratory epithelium using in vitro and  in vivo models, and identify the molecular signaling pathways through which nonacid pepsin elicits cell damage. She has been investigating the role of reflux, specifically pepsin, in injury and disease of the aero-digestive tract for several years now.  Dr. Johnston has presented this work at national and international scientific and clinical meetings and directed two international conferences on extra-esophageal reflux disease, the future: diagnosis and treatment.  She has published the data in several peer reviewed journals, contributed chapters for reflux-related books, and edited a book on this subject.

In addition to investigating the role of pepsin as a diagnostic marker for reflux and its role in the pathophysiology of reflux-attributed inflammatory disease, her group has highlighted a potential role for pepsin in carcinogenesis of the laryngopharynx.  Her research team is currently performing experiments to elucidate pepsin as a promoter/causal agent involved in early events of carcinoma in the laryngopharynx, and to investigate the mechanism by which pepsin causes/contributes to inflammation and carcinogenesis in the laryngopharynx.

Research Interests:

•     Extraesophageal reflux
•     Use of pepsin as a marker for extraesophageal reflux
•     Uptake of pepsin by laryngeal epithelial cells & its role in reflux - attributed laryngeal injury & disease
•     Isolate and identification of the receptor with which pepsin interacts on laryngeal epithelial cells
•     New therapeutics for reflux (pepsin inhibitors/receptor antagonists)
•     Role of reflux, specifically pepsin, in laryngopharyngeal cancers
•     Role of pepsin in Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Anatomical Sciences with Honors – University of Dundee, United Kingdom, 1999

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular and Cellular Pathology – University of Dundee, United Kingdom, 2002

Awards and Honors:

Local/Regional Appointed Leadership and Committee Positions:

International Appointed Leadership and Committee Positions:

Editorial Boards:

Journal Reviews:

Textbook:

Johnston N and Toohill R.  Effects, diagnosis and management of extra-esophageal reflux.  A multi-disciplinary approach by world-renowned experts in the field.  Nova Science Publishing Company, New York. ISBN 978-1-61668-117-7