Nicolas Jo, a third-year medical student at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, has been selected for the 2025 Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship—a nationwide award that provides financial support for student-led research projects with the potential to make a significant impact.
“Being selected for this fellowship is an absolute honor,” said Jo. “AΩA has a long-standing tradition of supporting medical students, and this recognition feels like a testament to the hard work our team has put into the project.”
Last December, Jo began analyzing existing patient data from the University of Miami health clinics to explore a potential link between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and cancers of the upper airway and digestive tract. While the connection between GERD and esophageal cancer is well established, his research focuses on whether reflux may also play a role in the development of head and neck cancers, an area where scientific understanding is still evolving.
“Because reflux is such a common condition, gaining a deeper understanding of this potential link could help us improve care for more patients,” said Jo. His work could inform updated screening guidelines, lead to the development of new early detection tools and strategies, and help health care providers recognize symptoms sooner.
Jo’s project combines his undergraduate background in nutritional sciences and his growing interest in ear, nose, and throat medicine, making the research especially meaningful to him. “It’s an amazing way to blend my past and future interests into one project,” he said.
Jo is conducting his research under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Franzmann, principal investigator of the Franzmann Lab at the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and professor of Otolaryngology and director of Head and Neck Research at the UM Miller School of Medicine. He plans to present preliminary results of the project at the upcoming Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Conference in October.