Fjorda Koromani

PhD Researcher

I am Fjorda Koromani, scientific researcher merging medical expertise with a passion for research and education. My professional journey began with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Tirana University, Albania, which has been pivotal in shaping my approach to healthcare research. This background enriches my perspective on patient care, diagnosis, and treatment methodologies. My academic pursuit led me to the Netherlands on an ERAWEB scholarship, where I expanded my knowledge base with a Master degree in Genetic Epidemiology from Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences, Rotterdam and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Health Sciences from Erasmus MC, Rotterdam.

Favorite

“A chat with friends over a drink in a sunny day”

Moving to The Netherlands presented me with an opportunity that went beyond new academic knowledge. It was a cultural exchange that broadened my understanding of healthcare practices and research methodologies.

My doctoral research delved into osteoporotic vertebral fracture definition on radiographs and their risk factors, with a focus on replicating the findings via collaborative efforts. In parallel, I managed the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) project GEMSTONE, a consortium uniting 160 professionals of various disciplines, working in musculoskeletal research across Europe.

Currently, I serve as a Postdoctoral Researcher in a European Research Council (ERC) project granted to Prof F. Rivadeneira. I steer the project setup and implementation, coordinating multiple stakeholders including Erasmus MC, private companies, medical canters, researcher networks and technical experts. My role encompasses conducting scientific research, knowledge transfer through publications and presentations, scientific projectmanagement, and PhD student supervision. I serve as a liaison to ensure bidirectional transfer of expertise in collaborative efforts, supporting ethical and regulatory approvals, and leading specific tasks in various project work packages.

My professional journey has been marked by several publications and awards such as the Young Investigator Award- ASBMR 2019, New Investigator Award -ECTS 2017, Nature Reviews Disease Primers poster Award- ECTS 2016. These awards reflect not just individual accomplishments but a testament to collaborative efforts and a commitment to advancing healthcare knowledge. My goal is to integrate medical insights with research and teaching, aiming for a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare and better health outcomes.

Currently I am working as assistant professor at the Translation Skeletal Genomics group with an end goal to help answer translational questions regarding the utility of using genomics data and performing genomics-assisted medical decision-making. I am also actively involved as a teaching assistant and lecturer at The Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) programme.

  1. Prior JC, Oei EHG, Brown JP, Oei L, Koromani F, Lentle BC. Where’s the break? Critique of radiographic vertebral fracture diagnostic methods. Osteoporos Int. 2021.
  2. Koromani F, Alonso N, Alves I, Brandi ML, Foessl I, Formosa MM, et al. The “GEnomics of Musculo Skeletal Traits TranslatiOnal NEtwork“: Origins, Rationale, Organization, and Prospects. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:709815.
  3. Koromani F, Ghatan S, van Hoek M, Zillikens MC, Oei EHG, Rivadeneira F, et al. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Vertebral Fracture Risk. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2021;19(1):50-7.
  4. Koromani F, Rivadeneira F. Response to Comment on Koromani et al. Vertebral Fractures in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: More Than Skeletal Complications Alone. Diabetes Care 2020;43:137-144. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(6):e69.
  5. Koromani F, Oei L, Shevroja E, Trajanoska K, Schoufour J, Muka T, et al. Vertebral Fractures in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: More Than Skeletal Complications Alone. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(1):137-44.
  6. Koromani F, Trajanoska K, Rivadeneira F, Oei L. Recent Advances in the Genetics of Fractures in Osteoporosis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:337.
  7. Lentle B, Koromani F, Brown JP, Oei L, Ward L, Goltzman D, et al. The Radiology of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures Revisited. J Bone Miner Res. 2019;34(3):409-18.
  8. Oei EH, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, Oei L. Response to Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence Varies Widely. J Bone Miner Res. 2018;33(8):1550.
  9. Oei L, Koromani F, Breda SJ, Schousboe JT, Clark EM, van Meurs JB, et al. Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence Varies Widely Between Qualitative and Quantitative Radiological Assessment Methods: The Rotterdam Study. J Bone Miner Res. 2018;33(4):560-8.
  10. de Jonge EAL, Koromani F, Hofman A, Uitterlinden AG, Franco OH, Rivadeneira F, et al. Dietary acid load, trabecular bone integrity, and mineral density in an ageing population: the Rotterdam study. Osteoporos Int. 2017;28(8):2357-65.
  11. Oei L, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, Zillikens MC, Oei EH. Quantitative imaging methods in osteoporosis. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2016;6(6):680-98.
  12. Muka T, Koromani F, Portilla E, O’Connor A, Bramer WM, Troup J, et al. The role of epigenetic modifications in cardiovascular disease: A systematic review. Int J Cardiol. 2016;212:174-83.
  13. van der Burgh AC, Oliai Araghi S, Zillikens MC, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, van der Velde N, et al. The impact of thiazide diuretics on bone mineral density and the trabecular bone score: the Rotterdam Study. Bone. 2020;138:115475.
  14. Waqas K, Chen J, Koromani F, Trajanoska K, van der Eerden BC, Uitterlinden AG, et al. Skin Autofluorescence, a Noninvasive Biomarker for Advanced Glycation End-Products, Is Associated With Prevalent Vertebral and Major Osteoporotic Fractures: The Rotterdam Study. J Bone Miner Res. 2020;35(10):1904-13.
  15. Oliai Araghi S, Kiefte-de Jong JC, Trajanoska K, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, Zillikens MC, et al. Do Vitamin D Level and Dietary Calcium Intake Modify the Association Between Loop Diuretics and Bone Health? Calcif Tissue Int. 2020;106(2):104-14.
  16. Buitendijk SKC, van de Laarschot DM, Smits AAA, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, Beck TJ, et al. Trabecular Bone Score and Hip Structural Analysis in Patients With Atypical Femur Fractures. J Clin Densitom. 2019;22(2):257-65.
  17. Shevroja E, Lamy O, Kohlmeier L, Koromani F, Rivadeneira F, Hans D. Use of Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) as a Complementary Approach to Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for Fracture Risk Assessment in Clinical Practice. J Clin Densitom. 2017;20(3):334-45.
  18. Zheng HF, Forgetta V, Hsu YH, Estrada K, Rosello-Diez A, Leo PJ, et al. Whole-genome sequencing identifies EN1 as a determinant of bone density and fracture. Nature. 2015;526(7571):112-7.

2019

Young Investigator Award – Conference of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research

New Investigator Award – Conference of the European Calcified Tissue Society

2018

Travel Grant – Conference of the European Calcified Tissue Society

Travel Grant – Trustfonds Erasmus Universiteit

2017

New Investigator Award – Conference of the European Calcified Tissue Society

Travel Grant – American Society of Bone and Mineral Research

Travel Grant – Trustfonds Erasmus University

2016

 Nature Reviews Disease Primers poster Award – Conference of the European Calcified Tissue Society