Amosy E. M'Koma is an entrepreneur, tenured full professor of Surgery, Surgical Sciences, Pathology, and Cancer Biology at the Schools of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of General Surgery and Surgical Sciences, Section of Colon, and Rectal Surgery. Dr. M'Koma's laboratory specializes in colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the "Colitides" i.e., ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s colitis (CC), and indeterminate colitis (IC) when the established criteria for UC and CC are non-definitive and IBD-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) research. His keen specialty is on molecular diagnostic methodologies and surgical management of IBD, specifically as they relate to the physiology of pouch surgery "the restorative proctocolectomy, and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (RPC-IPAA)". The successful outcomes of RPC-IPAA surgery and convalescence depend on the correct diagnosis. M'Koma's objective is to develop a diagnostic ‘Gold Standard” bioassay tool that is Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Robust and Rapid, Equipment-free, and Deliverable (ASSURED) to the end-user during the first clinic endoscopy biopsy procedural visit without delay. An accurate diagnosis before initiating medical therapy or performing colectomy and construction of RPC-IPAA is paramount in terms of evidenced personalized surgical intervention, and prognosis, as well as delineation of IBD by non-invasive, affordable, accurate, and faster screening.
Current methods for diagnosing IBD are painstakingly inaccurate, confounding interventional regimens. With the guidance of Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, M'Koma discovered a biosignature that facilitates instant ASSURED IBD Diagnosis that shows promise for changing the landscape of IBD Diagnostics. This biotechnology development may also shed light on drug development targets for the disease toward a clinical and surgical solution in the field of colon and rectal surgery. Two United States Patents & Trademark Office (USPTO) protects his Diagnostic inventions held by the Assignee, Meharry Medical College. Further, M'Koma has established a translational research program with National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI) Early Detection Research Network and Data Management Center focused on IBD-associated colorectal malignancy in collaboration with NIH-funded Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center SPORE in Gastrointestinal Cancer (VICC GI SPORE).
As the Academic Society’s College Master, Dr. M'Koma has been involved in teaching Pre-Clinical and Clinical Skills to MD Medical Students. Furthermore, he trained PhD graduate Students, served on PhD Thesis Advisory Committees and mentored postdoctoral Research Fellows. He serves on several NIH Study Sections and Special Emphasis Review Panels i.e., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Center for Scientific Review ZRG1 KUDS-R, Intergrated Review Group, Small Business and Technology Transfer (SBIR/ STTR) Digestive Sciences Study Section; and Department of Defense (DoD) PRMRP IBD Panels, General Dynamics Information Technology Peer Review and Science Management.
Dr. M'Koma is an active member of thirty-seven Scientific Biomedical Journal Editorial Boards. He is the Guest Editor of four Special Issues for the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) Journals, focused on IBD diagnostics and Pharmaceutical and Surgical managements (ISSN 1648-9144 and ISSN 2075-1729). Dr. M'Koma is an Affiliated Scientist/Scientific Investigator for the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), and the International Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ISUCRS). He is also a member of the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center, Vanderbilt Colorectal Research Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and the Meharry-Vanderbilt-Tennessee State University Cancer Partnership Consortium.