Nicole M. Gatto, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Gatto has more than 13 years experience working in medical, scientific, and health-related research at academic research institutions including a number of the University of California campuses and the University of Southern California, in addition to the County of Los Angeles Department of Health, the Veterans Administration as well as within the private sector. Her research has been primarily focused on identifying environmental, biological and lifestyle risk and prognostic factors for chronic conditions, neurological diseases and cancer.

Dr. Gatto has worked on several clinical research trials aimed at determining the efficacy of new pharmaceutical therapies, medical devices, and diagnostic tools. She has also performed basic science research in the areas of neuroscience and vision science. Her academic research has included investigating genetic factors involved in the etiology of Multiple Sclerosis, and using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to study both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and breast cancer in high-risk women. Dr. Gatto was involved in preparing a pre-marketing application for an FDA submission of a medical device used in cardiovascular disease, specifically in the bridge-to-transplant application. She has been involved in neuropsychological research of Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

Dr. Gatto has worked in disease surveillance of HIV as well as in survey research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). She was recently involved in a cohort study of air pollution and respiratory health in children and young adults in Los Angeles. She has over five years of teaching experience both at the university level and for a private company.

Dr. Gatto earned her doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Her dissertation was focused on cardiovascular disease risk factors and cognitive function. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow studying Parkinson’s disease with the Department of Epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health. She is interested in environmental factors that act as determinants of health and disease.

Gatto NM, Henderson VW, St. John J, McCleary C, Hodis H, Wack WJ. The metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition 2008, in press.

Gatto NM, Hodis H, Liu CR, Liu CH, Mack WJ. Correlations between brachial artery vasoreactivity and anatomical measures of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 2007; Sep 3.

Proctor DM, Gatto NM, Hong SJ, Allamneni KP. Mode-of-action framework for evaluating the relevance of rodent forestomach tumors in cancer risk assessment. Toxicological Sciences 2007; 98(2):313–326.

Minaglia SM, Özel B, Gatto NM, Korst, L, Mishell DR, Miller DA. Decreased rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration is associated with change in obstetric practice. International Urogynecology Journal 2007; Mar 28.

Gatto NM, Longnecker MP, Press MF, Sullivan-Halley J, McKean-Cowdin R, Bernstein L. Serum organochlorines and breast cancer: a case-control study among African-American women. Cancer Causes and Control 2007; 18:29-39.

Goldstein MS, Brown, ER, Ballard-Barbash R, Morgenstern H, Bastani R, Lee J, Gatto N, Ambs A. The use of complementary and alternative medicine among California adults with and without cancer. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2005; 2(4):557-565.

Haines J, Terwedow H, Burgess K, Pericak-Vance MA, Rimler JB, Martin E, Oksenberg JR, Lincoln R, Zhang DY, Banatao DR, Goodkin DE, Gatto N, Hauser SL. Linkage of multiple sclerosis to the MHC is explained by association to HLA-DR2. Hum Molec Genet 1998; 7:1229–1234.

Goodkin DE, Gatto N, Rojas N, Lincoln R, Oksenberg JR, Hauser SL. Demographics of multiplex families with multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol 1998; 43:530–534.

Hauser SL, Goodkin DE, Lincoln R, Usuku K, Garcia-Merino A, Gatto N, Young S, Oskenberg JR, The Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Group. A complete genomic screen for multiple sclerosis underscores a role for the major histocompatibility complex. Nature Genetics 1996; 13:469-471.

Mohr DC, Goodkin DE, Likosky W, Gatto N, Neilley LK, Griffin C, Stiebling B. Therapeutic expectations of patients with multiple sclerosis upon initiating interferon beta 1-b: Relationship to adherence to treatment. Mult Scler 1996; 2:222–226.

Mohr DC, Goodkin DE, Likosky W, Beutler LE, Gatto N, and Langan MK. Identification of Beck depression inventory items related to multiple sclerosis. J Behav Med 1997; 20(4).

Mohr DC, Goodkin DE, Likosky W, Gatto N, Baumann KA, Rudick RA. Treatment of depression improves adherence to interferon Beta-1b therapy for multiple sclerosis. Arch Neurol 1997; 54:531–533.

Mohr DC, Goodkin DE, Gatto N, Van Der Wende J. Depression, coping, and level of neurological impairment in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler 1997; 3:254–258.

Presentations

Sanossian N, Gatto NM, Ovbiagele B. Patterns of influenza vaccination among stroke survivors. American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL April 2008.

Suh M, Hamai D, Gatto NM, Proctor DM. Iron deficiency as mode of action for rat oral cavity neoplasms in the 2007 National Toxicology Program Drinking Water Study of Hexavalent Chromium. Society of Toxicology Conference, Seattle, WA March 2008.

Gatto NM, Henderson VW, St. John J, McCleary C, Hodis H, Wack WJ. The Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function in Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults. (oral presentation) American Heart Association International Stroke Conference, New Orleans, LA February 2008.

Gatto NM, Alexander DD, Kelsh MA. A meta-analysis of occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium and stomach cancer. 19th Annual International Society of Environmental Epidemiology Conference, Mexico City, Mexico, September 5–9, 2007.

Jyrala A, Gatto NM, Kay GL. Use of EuroSCORE for predicting hospital stay, postoperative intensive care stay and mid-term mortality in high-risk patients. 56th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Association of Thoracic Surgery, Helsinki Finland, August 16–18, 2007.

Jyrala A, Gatto NM, Kay GL. Is EuroSCORE able to predict length of stay, length of postoperative intensive care stay and medium-term mortality in medium-risk patients? 56th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Association of Thoracic Surgery, Helsinki Finland, August 16–18, 2007.

Gatto NM, Henderson VW, St. John J, Hodis H, McCleary C, Wack WJ. Subclinical atherosclerosis explains differences in cognitive function. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Chicago, IL, November 12–15, 2006.

St. John J, Henderson V, Gatto N, McCleary C, Spencer C, Hodis H, Mack W. Elevated thyroid stimulating hormone and cognition: Age-dependent effects. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2006; 20:suppl 2:S105.

Jyrala A, Gatto NM, Kay GL. Prediction of outcomes by euroscore in patients with repaired nonischemic mitral regurgutation. 16th World Congress of the World Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons, Ottawa, Canada, August 17–20, 2006.

Gatto N, Hodis H, Liu CR, Liu CH, Mack WJ. Correlations between brachial artery vasoreactivity and anatomical measures of atherosclerosis. 46th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in association with the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism, Phoenix, AZ, March 2-5, 2006 (abstract).

Minaglia SM, Özel B, Gatto NM, Mishell DR, Miller DA. Decreased rate of obstetrical anal sphincter laceration reflects change in obstetric practice. 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, Tucson, AZ, April 3-5, 2006 (abstract).

Gatto N, Hodis H, Liu CR, Liu CH, Mack WJ. 2005. Correlations between brachial artery vasoreactivity and anatomical measures of atherosclerosis. American Heart Association, Young Investigators Forum, Irvine, CA, September 30, 2005 (moderated poster session).

Goldstein MS, Brown ER, Morgenstern H, Bastani R, Grant D, Gatto N, Ballard-Barbash R, Willis G, Ambs A. Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by adults with cancer in California: Results from the California Health Interview Survey Follow-up Study of CAM. American Public Health Association, 131st Annual Meeting and Exposition, San Francisco, CA, November 15–19, 2003.

Suhy J, Schuff N, Miller RG, Gatto N, Maudsley AA, Weiner MW. 1H MRSI Measurement of early detection and longitudinal changes in ALS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 8th Scientific Meeting and Exhibition, Denver, CO, April 3-7, 2000.

Suhy J, Schuff N, Miller RG, Gatto N, Maudsley AA, Weiner MW. Quantitation of measurement error for motor cortex NAA in ALS. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 7th Scientific Meeting and Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA, May 22–28, 1999.

Alroy-Rosin D, McCrosky L, Baldessari A, Gatto N, Menivar R, Padron R, Harris JN. Role of attention and memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease: Correlates with cerebral glucose metabolism. Proc. 1995 Annual American Psychological Society Conference, New York, NY, July 1995.

Mohr DC, Neilly L, Gatto N, Griffen C, Lakowski W, Steibling B, Goodkin DE. Expectations of multiple sclerosis patients initiating betaseron therapy. American Academy of Neurology Conference, Seattle, WA, 1995.

• Consultant, Statistical Consulting Research Center, University of Southern California, May 2005–2007
• Project Manager, Center for Health Policy Research, University of California, Los Angeles, 2001–2003
• Intern in Public Health/Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, HIV Epidemiology Unit, 2002
• Clinical Research Assistant, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Novacor Division for Cardiovascular Research, 1998
• Clinical Coordinator, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, Multiple Sclerosis Genetic Susceptibility Project, 1995–1998
  

Reviewed scientific literature and epidemiologic studies to evaluate potential risk of exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact with hexavalent chromium, and ingestion of stainless steel, as well as for health outcomes including brain and nasopharyngeal cancer.

Prepared a preliminary health risk evaluation for an investigation into exposure to stainless steel through ingestion from a beverage dispenser for a major soft-drink manufacturer and distributor.

Contributed to the epidemiologic section in state of science report, reviewing and summarizing the known risk factors for nasopharyngeal cancer.

Conducted an environmental assessment of Los Angeles area beaches in an evaluation of sewage spills from storm drains in the area and provided evaluation of alternative causation.

Prepared for expert deposition and trial, and supported expert witness testimony in the multiple cases including exposure to hexavalent chromium and sewage from storm drains.

Provided research for the background of a case-control study of brain cancer in petroleum workers.

Conducted epidemiologic analysis into the correlation between measures of maximum and cumulative hexavalent chromium.

Participated in editing manuscripts including a scientific paper that was submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

• International Society of Environmental Epidemiology, 2007–current
• Society of Epidemiology, student member, 2004–current
• American Heart Association, student member, 2006–current