Marcis LEJA
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Associate Professor Marcis LEJA Riga
East University Hospital
6 Linezera iela,
Riga, LV 1006
LATVIA
University of Latvia
Faculty of Medicine
Phone: +371 29497500
E-mail: cei@latnet.lv; marcis.leja@lu.lv |
Born: August 29, 1964, Riga, Latvia
Interests:
- Gastroenterology
- Colorectal cancer
- Early cancer detection and cancer prevention
- Gastric premalignant lesions
Languages : Latvian, English, Russian
Education:
- Riga Medical Institute, (Faculty General Medicine), 1982 - 1988
- Latvia Academy of Medicine (Clinical ordinature in Internal Medicine), 1988 - 1990
- Latvia Academy of Medicine, P.Stradins Clinical University hospital (Fellowship and
research fellowship in gastroenterology), 1991-1992 (Certificate of gastroenterologist)
- Riga International College of Economics and Business Administration (MBA diploma), 2000
- 2003
- Dr.med. (PhD), Riga Stradins University, 2003
Experience
Clinical Work:
- Internist-gastroenterologist, physician-lecturer, Centre of Clinical Medicine LINEZERS
of Latvia Academy of Medicine, 1992 - 1998
- Consulting gastroenterologist, hospital LINEZERS, 1999 - 2005
- Gastroenterologist, Digestive Diseases Centre GASTRO, 1999 -
present
- Consulting gastroenterologist, Riga East University Hospital, 2005 - present
Educational Work:
- Student training during clinical ordinature and research fellowship, Dept. of Internal
Medicine, Latvia Academy of Medicine, 1989 - 1992
- Responsibility for the problem-based student education program in gastroenterology,
Centre of Clinical Medicine LINEZERS of Latvia Academy of Medicine,
1992 - 1995
- Postgraduate student training in gastroenterology, 1998 - 2005 (irregularly)
- Lecturer in gastroenterology, Postgraduate training and qualification institute
(University of Latvia) and Riga Stradins University postgraduate education course, 1996 -
present
- Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, 2003 - 2007
- Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, 2007 -
present
Currently M. Leja is the chairman of the Board, Doctorial School in Translational
Medicine, University of Latvia . One PhD thesis has been defended under his supervision (A.
Sivins, 2012), currently 6 PhD works, number of resident and student
research works are being conducted under his supervision. M. Leja is involved in regular
postgraduate education either in Latvia or internationally, e.g. in postgraduate courses
of European Association of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition (EAGEN).
Research and Administrative Work:
Head of the Research Department, Riga East University Hospital, 2005 - present
Leading scientist, Riga East University Hospital, 2009 - present
Leading scientist, University of Latvia, 2009 - present
Honours and Awards :
- Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 2012
- Scientist of the Month award (University of Latvia), 09/2012
- Gratitude for the contribution in conducting Colorectal Cancer pilot study in Latvia
(Rector of University of Latvia), 2011
- Gratitude for the contribution in organizing and supporting the Day of Medical Carrier
(Latvian Association of Physicians, Latvian Association of Medical Nurses), 2011
- Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of contribution in Eurasian Seminar on
Colorectal cancer (Latvian Association of Eurasian Federation of Oncology), 2010
- Gratitude from the Editors of Alimentary Pharmacology& Therapeutics for
ranking among the 10% best quality reviewers of the journal (Editorial Board, Alimentary
Pharmacology & Therapeutics), 2010
- The Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991 ( Board for Awarding
the Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991),
- Gratitude for the contribution in VII Congress of the Russian Scientific Society of
Gastroenterologists "Disease and Age" (Presidents of the Russian
Scientific Society of Gastroenterologists, Director of the Central Research Institute of
Gastroenterology), 2007
Professional Activities and Memberships :
- Latvian Association of Gastroenterologists
- European Association of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition
- International Stomach Health initiative
- International member, American Gastroenterological Association
- Editorial Board member - Digestive Diseases and Sciences (Springer, USA), American
Journal of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention (IVY Union Publishing, USA), Frontiers
in Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Drugs, Exosomics (InTech)
- Reviewer for additional 10 medical journals as well as 3 international congresses (on
regular base)
Research Project Management Experience
International or national co-ordinator and/or leading researcher in many local or
international projects funded from different sources ( national funding, international
funding, funding from the internal resources of the University/group}. Steering Committee
member for several international projects or EU funded projects in Latvia.
The most important are listed below:
- .Multicentric randomised study of H.pylori eradication, pepsinogen testing and
FOBT for prevention of gastric camcer and colorectal cancer mortality (GISTAR; www.gistar.eu) principal investigator; study protocol
currently submitted for approval in IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer),
funding pending, tentative amount of funding 15-20 M EUR.
- ESF funded project "Multidisciplinary research group for early cancer
detection and cancer prevention", principal investigator , 2010 - 2012; total funding
2 M EUR
- Project "Elaboration of diagnostic methods for the detection of cancer and
pre-cancerous lesion risks as well as for optimizing cancer therapy" within State
Research Program "Study of major pathologies affesting life duration and qualityof
the Latvia population by multidisciplinary research consortium", Principal
investigator, 2006 - 2009, total funding ~ 1M EUR
- Tri-lateral Latvian-Lithuanian-Taiwanese project on gastric premalignant lesions ( 2
consecutive projects), national principal investigator and international co-ordinator,
2004 - 201o, total funding (all countries) ~ 300 000 EUR.
International Collaboration in Research
M.Leja is involved in multiple international research groups relates to cancer
prevention and gastroenterology. Within international teams he has been involved in
elaboration of WEuropean and international guidlines, including European Guidelines for
quality assurance in colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis, Maastricht/Florence IV
guidelines (on H.pylori related disease), MAPS (Management of Precancerous Lesions in the
Stomach) guidelines as well as quality indicators for colorectal screening under the
International Digestive Cancer Screening network. Regular international
activities include active participation in the screening team (groups on new tests,
improvement of FOBT testing) of World Endoscopy Organization, as well as International
Digestive Cancer Alliance (IDCA), European Society for Digestive Endoscopy, European
Association of Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition (EAGEN), European Helicobacter
Study Group, Healthy Stomach Initiative and European Celiac Disease Study group, Eurasian
Oncology program.
The group lead by M.Leja has regular international collaboration eith tht leading
research groups in the field in many countries, including Lithuania, Germany, Swede,
Finland, Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Taiwan, Japan,
Israel.
Publications, Presentations
Author of more than 120 research publications (out of these 22 PubMed cited), $ book
chapters, more than 120 presentations in international conferences and symposia, 3 patent
aplications have been submitted (2 approved so far).
Selected Publications
- Xu Z, Ionsecu R, Boza Y, Tisch U, Ding L,
Liu H, Song Q, Pan Y, Xiong F, Gu K, Sun G, Chen Z, Leja M, Haick H. The
Breathprints of Gastric Cancer and Benign Gastric Conditions. 2013. Submitted.
- Zayakin P, Ancans G, Silina M, Meistere I,
Kalnina Z,, Andrejeva D, Endzelins E, Ivanova L, Pismennaja A, Ruskule R,, Donina S, Wex
T, Malfertheiner P, Leja M, Line A.
Tumour-associated autoantibody signature for the early detection of gastric cancer.
- Int J Cancer. 2013; 132(1): 137-147 (Impact factor 5.44)
- Leja M, Funka K et al. Interobserver
variation in assessing gastric premalignant lesions: better agreement for intestinal
metaplasia than atrophy. - Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; In Press (Impact factor 1.76)
- Leja M, Cine E, Rudzite D, et al.
Prevalence of H.pylori infection and atrophic gastritis in Latvia. - Eur J
Gastroenterol Hepatol 2012; 24(12): 1410-1417 (Impact
factor 1.76)
- Leja M, Wex T, Malfertheiner P.
Markers for gastric cancer premalignant lesions: where do we go? - Dig Dis 2012;30(3):268-276.
(Impact factor 1.49)
- Agreus L, Kuipers EJ, Kupcinskas L,
Malfertheiner P, Di Mario F, Leja M, et al., Rationale in diagnosis and screening
of atrophic gastritis with stomach-specific plasma biomarkers. - Scand J
Gastroenterol 2012; 47: 136-47. (Impact factor 2.34)
- Kupcinskas J, Wex T, Bornschein J, Selgrad
M, Leja M, Juozaityte E, Kiudelis G,
Jonaitis LV, Malfertheiner P. Lack of association between gene polymorphisms of
Angiotensin converting enzyme, Nod-like receptor 1, Toll-like receptor 4, FAS/FASL and the
presence of Helicobacter pylori-induced premalignant gastric lesions and gastric cancer in
Caucasians. - BMC Med Genetics. 2011. 12; 112. 1-9. (Impact factor 2.44)
- Daugule I, Sudraba A, Chiu HM, Funka K,
Ivanauskas A, Janciauskas D, Jonaitis L, Kiudelis G, Tolmanis I, Vanags A, Lin JT,
Kupcinskas L, Leja M. Gastric plasma biomarkers and Operative Link for Gastritis
Assessment gastritis stage. - Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Apr; 23(4):302-7.
(Impact factor 1.7)
- Leja, M.; Kupcinskas, L.; Funka, K.;
Sudraba, A.; Jonaitis, L.; Ivanauskas, A.; Janciauskas, D.; Kiudelis, G.; Chiu, H. M., and
Lin, J. T. The validity of a biomarker method for indirect detection of gastric mucosal
atrophy versus standard histopathology. - Dig Dis Sci. 2009 Nov; 54(11):2377-84.
(Impact factor 1.84)
- Shirin, H.; Leja, M., Niv, Y.
Helicobacter pylori and non-malignant diseases. - Helicobacter. 2008 Oct; 13
Suppl 1:23-7. (Impact factor 3.11)
- Silina, K., Zayakin, P., Kalnina, Z.,
Ivanova, L., Meistere, I., Endzelins, E., Abols, A., Stengrevics, A., Leja, M.,
Ducena, K., Kozirovskis, V., Line, A. Sperm-associated
antigens as targets for cancer immunotherapy: expression pattern and humoral immune
response in cancer patients. - J Immunother, 2011. 34(1): p. 28-44. (Impact
factor 3.2)
- European guidelines for quality assurance in
colorectal cancer. 1st edition. Segan N, Patnick J, von Karsa L. eds. IARC, World Health
Organization. 2010. 386 p.
- Leja, M. Gastric cancer
epidemiology.- In: Gastric Cancer: Diagnosis, Early Prevention, and Treatment.
V.Pasechnikov ed. Nova Science Publishers. New York. 2010. ISBN: 978-1-61668-313-9.
- Leja M, Kupcinskas L, Funka K,
Sudraba A, Jonaitis L, Ivanauskas A, Janciauskas D, Kuidelis G, Chiu HM, Lin JT. Value of
gastrin-17 in detecting antral atrophy. - Adv Med Sci 2011; 56(2): 145-150
(Impact factor 1)
- Sudraba A, Daugule I, Rudzite D, Funka K,
Tolmanis I, Engstrand L, Janciauskas D, Jonaitis L, Kiudelis G, Kupcinskas L, Ivanauskas
A, Leja M. Performance of routine Helicobacter pylori tests in patients with
atrophic gastritis. - J Gastrointestin Liver Dis 2011; 20(4): 349-354 (Impact
factor 1.33)
.
Last update 25.04.2013