Bio

Bio

My interest in medicine and research was triggered by my mother?s battle with chronic hepatitis C, which made me realize the transformational power of biomedical research in treating patients. Therefore, my career goal is to become a physician scientist in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology dedicated to translating discoveries in the laboratory into novel medical treatment modalities. My research focus is alterations in phosphoinositides signaling and its pathogenesis in cancers of the hepatobiliary and luminal GI tract with the goal to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention. I also have a particular interest in understanding the interface between chronic viral infection and cancer through studying how the innate and adaptive immune system are perturbed in chronic viral infections

Clinical Focus

  • Fellow
  • Gastroenterology

Honors & Awards

  • Chem-H Physician Scientist Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford Chem-H (2018)
  • Nation Research Service Fellowship for MD/PhD (F30), NIH (2013)
  • International Achievement Summit Delegate, Academy of Achievement (2011)
  • HHMI Medical Student Research Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2010)
  • Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, The Soros Foundation (2009)
  • Phi Beta Kappa, UCLA (2008)
  • Summa Cum Laude, UCLA (2008)
  • Departmental Citation for top graduate, Outstanding Bachelor of Science, UCLA Bioengineering (2008)
  • Bioengineering Capstone Design Winner, UCLA Bioengineering (2008)
  • Dean's Prize for Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher, UCLA Dean's office (2007)
  • Tau Beta Pi, UCLA School of Engineering (2007)
  • Gates Millennium Scholar, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (2004)

Publications

All Publications

  • RNA genome conservation and secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-related viruses: a first look. RNA (New York, N.Y.) Rangan, R., Zheludev, I. N., Das, R. 2020

    Abstract

    As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, there is a growing need for a compilation of conserved RNA genome regions in the SARS-CoV-2 virus along with their structural propensities to guide development of antivirals and diagnostics. Here we present a first look at RNA sequence conservation and structural propensities in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Using sequence alignments spanning a range of betacoronaviruses, we rank genomic regions by RNA sequence conservation, identifying 79 regions of length at least 15 nucleotides as exactly conserved over SARS-related complete genome sequences available near the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We then confirm the conservation of the majority of these genome regions across 739 SARS-CoV-2 sequences subsequently reported from the COVID-19 outbreak, and we present a curated list of 30 'SARS-related-conserved' regions. We find that known RNA structured elements curated as Rfam families and in prior literature are enriched in these conserved genome regions, and we predict additional conserved, stable secondary structures across the viral genome. We provide 106 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-structured' regions as potential targets for antivirals that bind to structured RNA. We further provide detailed secondary structure models for the extended 5' UTR, frame-shifting element, and 3' UTR. Last, we predict regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome that have low propensity for RNA secondary structure and are conserved within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These 59 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-unstructured' genomic regions may be most easily targeted in primer-based diagnostic and oligonucleotide-based therapeutic strategies.

    View details for DOI 10.1261/rna.076141.120

    View details for PubMedID 32398273

  • High Prevalence of Concurrent Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Patients with SARS-CoV-2: Early Experience from California. Gastroenterology Cholankeril, G., Podboy, A., Aivaliotis, V. I., Tarlow, B., Pham, E. A., Spencer, S., Kim, D., Hsing, A., Ahmed, A. 2020

    View details for DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.008

    View details for PubMedID 32283101

  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Chronic Liver Diseases: Current Understanding and Future Direction. Digestive diseases and sciences Lechner, S., Yee, M., Limketkai, B. N., Pham, E. A. 2020

    Abstract

    Chronic liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Even though effective treatments are now available for most chronic viral hepatitis, treatment options for other causes of chronic liver disease remain inadequate. Recent research has revealed a previously unappreciated role that the human intestinal microbiome plays in mediating the development and progression of chronic liver diseases. The recent remarkable success of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating Clostridioides difficile demonstrates that the intestinal microbiota can be manipulated to obtain favorable therapeutic benefits and that FMT may become an important component of a total therapeutic approach to effectively treat hepatic disorders.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-020-06100-0

    View details for PubMedID 32020359

  • PI4KIII? is a therapeutic target in chromosome 1q-amplified lung adenocarcinoma. Science translational medicine Tan, X., Banerjee, P., Pham, E. A., Rutaganira, F. U., Basu, K., Bota-Rabassedas, N., Guo, H. F., Grzeskowiak, C. L., Liu, X., Yu, J., Shi, L., Peng, D. H., Rodriguez, B. L., Zhang, J., Zheng, V., Duose, D. Y., Solis, L. M., Mino, B., Raso, M. G., Behrens, C., Wistuba, I. I., Scott, K. L., Smith, M., Nguyen, K., Lam, G., Choong, I., Mazumdar, A., Hill, J. L., Gibbons, D. L., Brown, P. H., Russell, W. K., Shokat, K., Creighton, C. J., Glenn, J. S., Kurie, J. M. 2020; 12 (527)

    Abstract

    Heightened secretion of protumorigenic effector proteins is a feature of malignant cells. Yet, the molecular underpinnings and therapeutic implications of this feature remain unclear. Here, we identify a chromosome 1q region that is frequently amplified in diverse cancer types and encodes multiple regulators of secretory vesicle biogenesis and trafficking, including the Golgi-dedicated enzyme phosphatidylinositol (PI)-4-kinase III? (PI4KIII?). Molecular, biochemical, and cell biological studies show that PI4KIII?-derived PI-4-phosphate (PI4P) synthesis enhances secretion and accelerates lung adenocarcinoma progression by activating Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3)-dependent vesicular release from the Golgi. PI4KIII?-dependent secreted factors maintain 1q-amplified cancer cell survival and influence prometastatic processes in the tumor microenvironment. Disruption of this functional circuitry in 1q-amplified cancer cells with selective PI4KIII? antagonists induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth and metastasis. These results support a model in which chromosome 1q amplifications create a dependency on PI4KIII?-dependent secretion for cancer cell survival and tumor progression.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax3772

    View details for PubMedID 31969487

  • Association of Digestive Symptoms and Hospitalization in Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection. The American journal of gastroenterology Cholankeril, G., Podboy, A., Aivaliotis, V. I., Pham, E. A., Spencer, S. P., Kim, D., Ahmed, A. 2020; 115 (7): 1129?32

    Abstract

    High rates of concurrent gastrointestinal manifestations have been noted in patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, the association between these digestive manifestations and need for hospitalization has not been established.This is a retrospective review of consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19. A total of 207 patients were identified; 34.5% of patients noted concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms, with 90% of gastrointestinal symptoms being mild.In a multivariate regression model controlled for demographics and disease severity, an increased risk of hospitalization was noted in patients with any digestive symptom (adjusted odds ratio 4.84, 95% confidence interval: 1.68-13.94).The presence of digestive symptoms in COVID-19 is associated with a need for hospitalization.

    View details for DOI 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000712

    View details for PubMedID 32618665

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7302101

  • A functional subset of CD8+ T cells during chronic exhaustion is defined by SIRPalpha expression. Nature communications Myers, L. M., Tal, M. C., Torrez Dulgeroff, L. B., Carmody, A. B., Messer, R. J., Gulati, G., Yiu, Y. Y., Staron, M. M., Angel, C. L., Sinha, R., Markovic, M., Pham, E. A., Fram, B., Ahmed, A., Newman, A. M., Glenn, J. S., Davis, M. M., Kaech, S. M., Weissman, I. L., Hasenkrug, K. J. 2019; 10 (1): 794

    Abstract

    Prolonged exposure of CD8+ T cells to antigenic stimulation, as in chronic viral infections, leads to a state of diminished function termed exhaustion. We now demonstrate that even during exhaustion there is a subset of functional CD8+ T cells defined by surface expression of SIRPalpha, a protein not previously reported on lymphocytes. On SIRPalpha+ CD8+ T cells, expression of co-inhibitory receptors is counterbalanced by expression of co-stimulatory receptors and it is only SIRPalpha+ cells that actively proliferate, transcribe IFNgamma and show cytolytic activity. Furthermore, target cells that express the ligand for SIRPalpha, CD47, are more susceptible to CD8+ T cell-killing in vivo. SIRPalpha+ CD8+ T cells are evident in mice infected with Friend retrovirus, LCMV Clone 13, and in patients with chronic HCV infections. Furthermore, therapeutic blockade of PD-L1 to reinvigorate CD8+ T cells during chronic infection expands the cytotoxic subset of SIRPalpha+ CD8+ T cells.

    View details for PubMedID 30770827

  • Trends in Mortality From Extrahepatic Complications in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease, From 2007 Through 2017. Gastroenterology Kim, D., Adejumo, A. C., Yoo, E. R., Iqbal, U., Li, A. A., Pham, E. A., Cholankeril, G., Glenn, J. S., Ahmed, A. 2019

    Abstract

    Trends of mortality associated with extrahepatic complications of chronic liver disease might be changing. We studied trends in mortality from extrahepatic complications of viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the United States (US).We performed a population-based study using US Census and the National Center for Health Statistics mortality records, from 2007 through 2017. We identified trends in age-standardized mortality using joinpoint trend analysis with estimates of annual percentage change.The liver-related mortality among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased from 2007 through 2013 and then decreased once patients began receiving treatment with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents, from 2014 through 2017. Among patients with HCV infection, the age-standardized mortality for extrahepatic cancers was 2.6%, for cardiovascular disease was 1.9%, and for diabetes was 3.3%. Among individuals with hepatitis B virus infection, liver-related mortality decreased steadily from 2007 through 2017. During the study age-standardized mortality from hepatitis B virus-related extrahepatic complications increased with an average annual percentage of 2.0%. Although liver-related mortality from ALD continued to increase, mortality from extrahepatic complications of ALD did not change significantly during the 11-year study. Among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the cause of death was most frequently cardiovascular disease, which increased gradually over the study period, whereas liver-related mortality increased rapidly.In an analysis of US Census and the National Center for Health Statistics mortality records, we found that after widespread use of DAA agents for treatment of viral hepatitis, cause-specific mortality from extrahepatic cancers increased, whereas mortality from cardiovascular disease or diabetes increased only among patients with HCV infection. These findings indicate the need to reassess risk and risk factors for extrahepatic cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in individuals successfully treated for HCV infection with DAA agents.

    View details for DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.06.026

    View details for PubMedID 31251928

  • Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Epidemiology, Natural History, and Diagnostic Challenges. Hepatology Cholankeril, G., Perumpail, R. B., Pham, E. A., Ahmed, A., Harrison, S. A. 2016; 64 (3): 954-?

    View details for DOI 10.1002/hep.28719

    View details for PubMedID 27388553

  • Reconstitution and Functional Analysis of a Full-Length Hepatitis C Virus NS5B Polymerase on a Supported Lipid Bilayer. ACS central science Cho, N., Pham, E. A., Hagey, R. J., Lévêque, V. J., Ma, H., Klumpp, K., Glenn, J. S. 2016; 2 (7): 456-466

    Abstract

    Therapeutic targeting of membrane-associated viral proteins is complicated by the challenge of investigating their enzymatic activities in the native membrane-bound state. To permit functional characterization of these proteins, we hypothesized that the supported lipid bilayer (SLB) can support in situ reconstitution of membrane-associated viral protein complexes. As proof-of-principle, we selected the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase which is essential for HCV genome replication, and determined that the SLB platform enables functional reconstitution of membrane protein activity. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring enabled label-free detection of full-length NS5B membrane association, its interaction with replicase subunits NS3, NS5A, and template RNA, and most importantly its RNA synthesis activity. This latter activity could be inhibited by the addition of candidate small molecule drugs. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the SLB platform can support functional studies of membrane-associated viral proteins engaged in critical biological activities.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acscentsci.6b00112

    View details for PubMedID 27504492

  • A New Standard of Care? Standard Dose Sofosbuvir in an HCV-Infected Liver Transplant Recipient Undergoing Hemodialysis DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES Perumpail, R. B., Wong, R. J., Pham, E. A., Higgins, J. P., Daugherty, T. J., Ahmed, A. 2016; 61 (1): 39-41

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-015-3756-z

    View details for Web of Science ID 000367609300008

  • A New Standard of Care? Standard Dose Sofosbuvir in an HCV-Infected Liver Transplant Recipient Undergoing Hemodialysis. Digestive diseases and sciences Perumpail, R. B., Wong, R. J., Pham, E. A., Higgins, J. P., Daugherty, T. J., Ahmed, A. 2016; 61 (1): 39?41

    View details for PubMedID 26082077

  • Future Therapy for Hepatitis B Virus: Role of Immunomodulators. Current hepatology reports Pham, E. A., Perumpail, R. B., Fram, B. J., Glenn, J. S., Ahmed, A., Gish, R. G. 2016; 15 (4): 237-244

    Abstract

    Although currently available therapies for chronic hepatitis B virus infection can suppress viremia and provide long-term benefits for patients, they do not lead to a functional cure for most patients. Advances in our understanding of the virus-host interaction and the recent remarkable success of immunotherapy in cancer offer new and promising strategies for developing immune modulators that may become important components of a total therapeutic approach to hepatitis B, some of which are now in clinical development. Among the immunomodulatory agents currently being investigated to combat chronic HBV are toll-like receptor agonists, immune checkpoint inhibitors, therapeutic vaccines, and engineered T cells. The efficacy of some immune modulatory therapies is compromised by high viral antigen levels. Cutting edge strategies, including RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9, are now being studied that may ultimately be shown to have the capacity to lower viral antigen levels sufficiently to substantially increase the efficacy of these agents. The current advances in therapies for chronic hepatitis B are leading us toward the possibility of a functional cure.

    View details for PubMedID 27917363

  • Task-Shifting: An Approach to Decentralized Hepatitis C Treatment in Medically Underserved Areas DIGESTIVE DISEASES AND SCIENCES Jayasekera, C. R., Perumpail, R. B., Chao, D. T., Pham, E. A., Aggarwal, A., Wong, R. J., Ahmed, A. 2015; 60 (12): 3552-3557

    Abstract

    Despite the availability of safe and effective direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), the vast majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in the USA remain untreated, in part due to lack of access to specialist providers.To determine the effectiveness of DAA-based treatment in medically underserved areas in California, in a healthcare model dependent on task-shifting--wherein a visiting hepatologist assesses patients for treatment eligibility, but subsequent routine follow-up evaluation of patients prescribed treatment is devolved to a part-time licensed vocational nurse under remote supervision of the hepatologist.We retrospectively determined rates of sustained virologic response 12 weeks after treatment completion (SVR-12), adverse events, and treatment discontinuations in patients who received sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens between December 2013 and November 2014.Despite limited specialist provider involvement in medically underserved areas, all but two of 58 patients completed treatment, and 88 % of patients achieved the curative endpoint of undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after completing treatment (sustained virologic response, SVR-12). Almost 80 % of patients with cirrhosis and 85 % of patients with prior treatment experience achieved SVR-12.Treatment effectiveness with sofosbuvir-based regimens in medically underserved areas utilizing task-shifting from a specialist to a mid-level provider is comparable to those achieved in pivotal clinical trials for these regimens, and to ?real-world? experiences of tertiary care centers in the USA.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10620-015-3911-6

    View details for Web of Science ID 000364563600011

  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Is an HCV NS5A Ligand and Mediates Replication of the Viral Genome. Gastroenterology Cho, N., Lee, C., Pang, P. S., Pham, E. A., Fram, B., Nguyen, K., Xiong, A., Sklan, E. H., Elazar, M., Koytak, E. S., Kersten, C., Kanazawa, K. K., Frank, C. W., Glenn, J. S. 2015; 148 (3): 616-625

    Abstract

    Phosphoinositides (PIs) bind and regulate localization of proteins via a variety of structural motifs. PI 4,5-bisphosphate (PI[4,5]P2) interacts with and modulates the function of several proteins involved in intracellular vesicular membrane trafficking. We investigated interactions between PI(4,5)P2 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) and effects on the viral life cycle.We used a combination of quartz crystal microbalance, circular dichroism, molecular genetics, and immunofluorescence to study specific binding of PI(4,5)P2 by the HCV NS5A protein. We evaluated the effects of PI(4,5)P2 on the function of NS5A by expressing wild-type or mutant forms of Bart79I or FL-J6/JFH-5'C19Rluc2AUbi21 RNA in Huh7 cells. We also studied the effects of strategies designed to inhibit PI(4,5)P2 on HCV replication in these cells.The N-terminal amphipathic helix of NS5A bound specifically to PI(4,5)P2, inducing a conformational change that stabilized the interaction between NS5A and TBC1D20, which is required for HCV replication. A pair of positively charged residues within the amphipathic helix (the basic amino acid PI(4,5)P2 pincer domain) was required for PI(4,5)P2 binding and replication of the HCV-RNA genome. A similar motif was found to be conserved across all HCV isolates, as well as amphipathic helices of many pathogens and apolipoproteins.PI(4,5)P2 binds to HCV NS5A to promote replication of the viral RNA genome in hepatocytes. Strategies to disrupt this interaction might be developed to inhibit replication of HCV and other viruses.

    View details for DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.11.043

    View details for PubMedID 25479136

  • Using Chimeric Mice with Humanized Livers to Predict Human Drug Metabolism and a Drug-Drug Interaction JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS Nishimura, T., Hu, Y., Wu, M., Pham, E., Suemizu, H., Elazar, M., Liu, M., Idilman, R., Yurdaydin, C., Angus, P., Stedman, C., Murphy, B., Glenn, J., Nakamura, M., Nomura, T., Chen, Y., Zheng, M., Fitch, W. L., Peltz, G. 2013; 344 (2): 388-396

    Abstract

    Interspecies differences in drug metabolism have made it difficult to use preclinical animal testing data to predict the drug metabolites or potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) that will occur in humans. Although chimeric mice with humanized livers can produce known human metabolites for test substrates, we do not know whether chimeric mice can be used to prospectively predict human drug metabolism or a possible DDI. Therefore, we investigated whether they could provide a more predictive assessment for clemizole, a drug in clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that analyses performed in chimeric mice can correctly identify the predominant human drug metabolite before human testing. The differences in the rodent and human pathways for clemizole metabolism were of importance, because the predominant human metabolite was found to have synergistic anti-HCV activity. Moreover, studies in chimeric mice also correctly predicted that a DDI would occur in humans when clemizole was coadministered with a CYP3A4 inhibitor. These results demonstrate that using chimeric mice can improve the quality of preclinical drug assessment.

    View details for DOI 10.1124/jpet.112.198697

    View details for PubMedID 23143674

  • Structural Map of a MicroRNA-122: Hepatitis C Virus Complex JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY Pang, P. S., Pham, E. A., Elazar, M., Patel, S. G., Eckart, M. R., Glenn, J. S. 2012; 86 (2): 1250-1254

    Abstract

    MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) enhances hepatitis C virus (HCV) fitness via targeting two sites in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of HCV. We used selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension to resolve the HCV 5'-UTR's RNA secondary structure in the presence of miR-122. Nearly all nucleotides in miR-122 are involved in targeting the second site, beyond classic seed base pairings. These additional interactions enhance HCV replication in cell culture. To our knowledge, this is the first biophysical study of this complex to reveal the importance of 'tail' miR-122 nucleotide interactions.

    View details for DOI 10.1128/JVI.06367-11

    View details for PubMedID 22072754

  • Simplified RNA secondary structure mapping by automation of SHAPE data analysis NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH Pang, P. S., Elazar, M., Pham, E. A., Glenn, J. S. 2011; 39 (22)

    Abstract

    SHAPE (Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension) technology has emerged as one of the leading methods of determining RNA secondary structure at the nucleotide level. A significant bottleneck in using SHAPE is the complex and time-consuming data processing that is required. We present here a modified data collection method and a series of algorithms, embodied in a program entitled Fast Analysis of SHAPE traces (FAST), which significantly reduces processing time. We have used this method to resolve the secondary structure of the first ~900 nt of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome, including the entire core gene. We have also demonstrated the ability of SHAPE/FAST to detect the binding of a small molecule inhibitor to the HCV internal ribosomal entry site (IRES). In conclusion, FAST allows for high-throughput data processing to match the current high-throughput generation of data possible with SHAPE, reducing the barrier to determining the structure of RNAs of interest.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/nar/gkr773

    View details for PubMedID 21965531

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