Quan M. Nhu, MD, PhD
Title: KL2 Clinical Scholar, Gastroenterology
Affiliation: Scripps Clinic & Scripps Research Institute; University of California, San Diego
Year entered into CEGIR training program: 2018
Mentor/s: Seema Aceves, MD, PhD
Biosketch
As a physician-scientist, trained in immunology and immunopathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and at Johns Hopkins University, respectively, and in gastroenterology at Scripps Clinic, Dr. Nhu has had the opportunity to care for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases from the viewpoints both as a clinician and as an immunologist. Dr. Nhu’s current research is driven by the clinical needs of his patients and centers on understanding the mechanisms of inflammation and remodeling in EoE and developing clinically relevant therapeutic agents for EoE.
Summary of current CEGIR projects
Working closely with Dr. Seema Aceves at University of California, San Diego, Dr. Nhu’s current laboratory focus centers on investigating the molecular mechanisms of cellular injury, tissue inflammation and remodeling in EoE. Specifically, Dr. Nhu is investigating: 1) the mechanisms of male-female dichotomy in EoE; 2) the mechanisms of severe stricturing phenotypes in EoE; and 3) novel therapeutics targeting tissue remodeling and inflammation in EoE.
Publications as affiliated with CEGIR
- Nhu QM, Hsieh L, Dohil L, Dohil R, Newbury RO, Kurten R, Moawad FJ, Aceves SS. Anti-fibrotic effects of the thiazolidinediones in eosinophilic esophagitis pathologic remodeling: a preclinical evaluation. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2020; 11(4):e00164
- Nhu QM, Duong LD, Rawson RM, Newbury RO, Kurten RC, Dohil R, Aceves SS. Intrinsic sex-specific differences in fibrotic gene expression and pathology contribute to male disease predisposition in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis. American College of Gastroenterology, San Antonio, TX, 2019 (ACG/Radhika Srinivasan Gender-Based Research Award)
- Nhu QM, Aceves SS. Unanswered questions in eosinophilic esophagitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2020;124(3):227-228
- Nhu QM, Moawad FJ. New developments in the diagnosis and treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2019;17(1):48-62
- Nhu QM, Chiao H, Moawad FJ, Bao F, Konijeti GG. The anti-α4β7 integrin therapeutic antibody for inflammatory bowel disease, vedolizumab, ameliorates eosinophilic esophagitis: a novel clinical observation. Am J Gastro. 2018;113(8):1261-1263
- Nhu QM, Aceves SS. Medical and dietary management of eosinophilic esophagitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018;121(2):156-161
- Nhu QM, Aceves SS. Tissue remodeling in chronic eosinophilic esophageal inflammation: Parallels in asthma and therapeutic perspectives. Front Med (Lausanne). 2017;4:128. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2017.00128. eCollection 2017
Q & A with Dr. Nhu
How has CEGIR participation made a difference in your career, or how do you anticipate it will?
“The opportunity to interact with colleagues and established EoE/EGID leaders in the field within CEGIR and beyond has been tremendously helpful. CEGIR has a collaborative mentality, and there are always new opportunities to establish collaborations on common projects of interest.”
How do you feel the patient community benefits from the CEGIR training program?
“One important feature of CEGIR is the collaborative environment that includes not only clinicians and researchers, but also the direct interactions with patient advocacy and support groups. This collegial interaction has been key to the generation of patient-centered translational research questions and facilitating the dissemination of the latest clinically-relevant advances directly to patients.”