David N. Assis, MD
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2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
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Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
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Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
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Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)
Director, Fellowship Program, Digestive Diseases
Appointments
Publications Overview
- 66 Publications
- 1,925 Citations
- 22 Yale Co-Authors
Contact Info
Administrative Support
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)
Director, Fellowship Program, Digestive Diseases
Appointments
Publications Overview
- 66 Publications
- 1,925 Citations
- 22 Yale Co-Authors
Contact Info
Administrative Support
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileBoard Certification
2014, Re-certified 2015
2012
Related Fact Sheets
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)
Director, Fellowship Program, Digestive DiseasesBiography
Dr. Assis received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College followed by internship and residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he was also Chief Resident. He completed training in gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship under the T32 research track at Yale followed by transplant hepatology fellowship also at Yale.
His clinical and research interests are focused in autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases. Specifically, he treats patients with autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) at his liver clinic. He performs translational and basic research on autoimmune hepatitis, PSC, and PBC using human biospecimens in addition to work with animal models. He is investigating the link between the pro-inflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and autoimmune hepatitis, and the effect of psychological stress on autoimmune hepatitis. He is also studying human bile-derived organoids, and their interaction with T-cells, to elucidate the pathophysiology of PSC and identify novel therapeutic approaches. He is active in the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) as co-chair of the writing group on Guidance for PSC and Cholangiocarcinoma, and former member of of the writing group on Guidelines for autoimmune hepatitis.
In addition to this work, Dr. Assis is an active member of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at Yale. In this role, he evaluates and treats patients with Cystic Fibrosis who have GI or liver complications of their disease. He consults on patients from outside Yale's Cystic Fibrosis program who have these complications. He also performs clinical research on Cystic Fibrosis liver involvement and is active in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a member of the writing group for new Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease Guidelines.
Dr. Assis has served since 2021 as the Fellowship Program Director in the Section of Digestive Diseases.
Appointments
Digestive Diseases
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program
- Autoimmune and Cholestatic Liver Disease Program
- Digestive Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Human and Translational Immunology Program
- Internal Medicine
- Liver Center
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Yale School of Medicine (2013)
- Fellowship
- Yale School of Medicine (2012)
- Chief Residency
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2009)
- Residency
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (2008)
- Internship
- Thomas Jefferson University, Hospital (2006)
- MD
- Jefferson Medical College (2005)
- BS
- Messiah College (2001)
Research
Overview
I am investigating the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in autoimmune hepatitis. Active studies involve serial measurement of serum MIF and its soluble receptor (CD74) in the blood of patients with autoimmune hepatitis, to evaluate if these proteins can serve as biomarkers of disease activity.
I am evaluating cellular mechanisms of the release of the CD74 protein and its neutralizing activity on the cytokine MIF.
I am investigating the role of MIF in the pathophysiology of autoimmune hepatitis in animal models of disease.
A study of the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in autoimmune hepatitis, through clinical and translational investigations.
I am evaluating potential new therapies for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) including all-trans retinoic acid and the development of bile-derived organoids for translational studies in this disease.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
James Lorenzen Boyer, MD, FACEP, FAASLD
Deborah Proctor, MD
Jill Gaidos, MD
Christopher Bowlus
Ariel Jaffe, MD
Dhanpat Jain, MD
Cholangitis, Sclerosing
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Cystic Fibrosis
Liver
Cholestasis
Liver Diseases
Publications
2024
Pathophysiology of Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease
Kasper V, Assis D. Pathophysiology of Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease. Pediatric Pulmonology 2024, 59: s98-s106. PMID: 39105342, DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26869.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsComplication of cystic fibrosisCF liver diseaseHeterogeneity of clinical manifestationsManifestations of CFDisease-modifying factorsCFTR mutationsHepatobiliary complicationsBiliary stricturesBiliary cholestasisClinical manifestationsCystic fibrosisLiver diseaseTherapeutic approachesCF careDisease modelsDiseasePPAR-Mediated Bile Acid Glucuronidation: Therapeutic Targets for the Treatment of Cholestatic Liver Diseases
Gallucci G, Hayes C, Boyer J, Barbier O, Assis D, Ghonem N. PPAR-Mediated Bile Acid Glucuronidation: Therapeutic Targets for the Treatment of Cholestatic Liver Diseases. Cells 2024, 13: 1296. DOI: 10.3390/cells13151296.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary biliary cholangitisPrimary sclerosing cholangitisPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptorCholestatic liver diseaseUrsodeoxycholic acidUridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferaseObeticholic acidBile acid metabolismAdjunctive therapyIncomplete response to UDCAProgression of primary biliary cholangitisResponse to UDCALiver diseasePeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonistsSecond-line treatmentMarkers of cholestasisImpairment of bile flowTherapeutic targetTreatment of cholestatic liver diseasesRetention of bile acidsAlternative treatment strategiesProgression to fibrosisProliferator-activated receptorsAcid metabolismBiliary cholangitisProtocol for the development of a core outcome set for clinical trials in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Hussain N, Ma C, Hirschfield G, Walmsley M, Hanford P, Vesterhus M, Kowdley K, Bergquist A, Ponsioen C, Levy C, Assis D, Schramm C, Bowlus C, Trauner M, Aiyegbusi O, Jairath V, Trivedi P. Protocol for the development of a core outcome set for clinical trials in primary sclerosing cholangitis. BMJ Open 2024, 14: e080143. PMID: 38926149, PMCID: PMC11216047, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPrimary sclerosing cholangitisClinical trialsSclerosing cholangitisCore outcome setImmune-mediated liver diseasesPrimary sclerosing cholangitis treatmentOutcome measuresEvaluate novel therapiesSlow disease progressionPatient-reported outcome measuresMedical therapyNovel therapiesLiver fibrosisDisease progressionHistological assessmentLiver diseaseInternational two-round Delphi surveyImaging-based biomarkersIntervention trialsTherapyConsensus meetingHealthcare payersCholangitisSemistructured qualitative interviewsTwo-round Delphi surveyAutoimmune hepatitis: Brighton Collaboration case definition and guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunisation safety data
Kochhar S, Assis D, Mack C, Izurieta H, Muratori L, Munoz A, Nordenberg D, Gidudu J, Blau E, Vierling J. Autoimmune hepatitis: Brighton Collaboration case definition and guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunisation safety data. Vaccine 2024, 42: 1812-1825. PMID: 38368225, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.01.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsAutoimmune hepatitisCase definitionExclusion of alternative diagnosesBrighton CollaborationLevel of diagnostic certaintyBrighton Collaboration case definitionStandardised case definitionsAdverse eventsMiddle-income countriesAlternative diagnosesClinical trialsBackground incidenceSafety dataProcess expertsStudy of safetyClinical case managementDiagnostic certaintyHealthcare accessControl groupData collectionCOVID-19 vaccineExpert consensusCase managementBiochemical testsSystematic reviewAfrican American race does not confer an increased risk of clinical events in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Yazdanfar M, Zepeda J, Dean R, Wu J, Levy C, Goldberg D, Lammert C, Prenner S, Reddy K, Pratt D, Forman L, Assis D, Lytvyak E, Montano-Loza A, Gordon S, Carey E, Ahn J, Schlansky B, Korzenik J, Karagozian R, Hameed B, Chandna S, Yu L, Bowlus C. African American race does not confer an increased risk of clinical events in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Hepatology Communications 2024, 8 PMID: 38285883, PMCID: PMC10830082, DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000366.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPrimary sclerosing cholangitisTransplant-free survivalInflammatory bowel diseaseHepatic decompensationNon-Hispanic whitesSclerosing cholangitisIncreased risk of clinical eventsNatural history of primary sclerosing cholangitisAssociated with transplant-free survivalHistory of primary sclerosing cholangitisAssociated with hepatic decompensationBowel diseaseProgression to hepatic decompensationRisk of clinical eventsDecompensation-free survivalMayo risk scoreAbnormal liver testsPerformance of prognostic modelsAfrican American raceRates of inflammatory bowel diseaseDeath/liver transplantationAA patientsLiver testsDiagnostic delayAA race
2023
Cystic fibrosis screening, evaluation, and management of hepatobiliary disease consensus recommendations
Sellers Z, Assis D, Paranjape S, Sathe M, Bodewes F, Bowen M, Cipolli M, Debray D, Green N, Hughan K, Hunt W, Leey J, Ling S, Morelli G, Peckham D, Pettit R, Philbrick A, Stoll J, Vavrina K, Allen S, Goodwin T, Hempstead S, Narkewicz M. Cystic fibrosis screening, evaluation, and management of hepatobiliary disease consensus recommendations. Hepatology 2023, 79: 1220-1238. PMID: 37934656, PMCID: PMC11020118, DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAdvanced liver diseaseCystic fibrosisLiver diseaseHepatobiliary involvementHepatobiliary complicationsCF-associated liver diseasePubMed literature searchCystic fibrosis screeningScreening ultrasoundPortal hypertensionOutcome questionsLiver biopsyLiver failureMultilobular cirrhosisFibrosis screeningConsensus recommendationsFull-text reviewHepatobiliary diseaseCF FoundationLiterature searchThirty-oneCF outcomesMultidisciplinary committeeDiseaseComplicationsAdvancing diagnosis and management of liver disease in adults through exome sequencing
Zheng M, Hakim A, Konkwo C, Deaton A, Ward L, Genetics A, Silveira M, Assis D, Liapakis A, Jaffe A, Jiang Z, Curry M, Lai M, Cho M, Dykas D, Bale A, Mistry P, Vilarinho S. Advancing diagnosis and management of liver disease in adults through exome sequencing. EBioMedicine 2023, 95: 104747. PMID: 37566928, PMCID: PMC10433007, DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104747.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLiver diseaseWhole-exome sequencingUnknown etiologyTertiary referral academic medical centerReferral academic medical centerExome sequencingLiver disease patientsManagement of adultsAcademic health care centerComprehensive clinical evaluationHealth care centersAcademic medical centerGenetic variantsRare genetic variantsAdult patientsLiver centersHepatic steatosisDisease patientsClinical evaluationCare centerFamily historyMedical CenterClinical valueAdult medicinePatientsWED-283 Investigating the cholestatic pruritus of primary sclerosing cholangitis (ItCh-PSC): a study of patients participating in the consortium for autoimmune liver disease (CALiD)
Dean R, Yazdanfar M, Zepeda J, Levy C, Gordon S, Forman L, Lammert C, Assis D, Pratt D, Gungabissoon U, McGirr A, Mukherjee S, McLaughlin M, Bowlus C. WED-283 Investigating the cholestatic pruritus of primary sclerosing cholangitis (ItCh-PSC): a study of patients participating in the consortium for autoimmune liver disease (CALiD). Journal Of Hepatology 2023, 78: s388. DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(23)01040-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRecent Advances in the Management of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Assis D, Bowlus C. Recent Advances in the Management of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Clinical Gastroenterology And Hepatology 2023, 21: 2065-2075. PMID: 37084929, DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.04.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChronic cholestatic liver diseasePrimary sclerosing cholangitisInflammatory bowel diseasePrognostication of patientsCholestatic liver diseaseSclerosing cholangitisBowel diseaseLiver failureClinical featuresLiver diseaseMedical managementBiliary treeComplex pathophysiologyEffective therapyPharmacologic agentsRare natureCurrent conceptsDiseaseCholangitisFurther studiesCholangiocarcinomaPatientsPathophysiologyTherapyPrognosticationResearch gaps and opportunities in autoimmune hepatitis—Results of the international autoimmune hepatitis group research workshop 2022
Snijders R, Assis D, Oo Y, Sebode M, Taubert R, Willemse J, Tomsin B, Lohse A, Drenth J, Gevers T, Diseases T. Research gaps and opportunities in autoimmune hepatitis—Results of the international autoimmune hepatitis group research workshop 2022. Liver International 2023, 43: 1375-1384. PMID: 37035872, DOI: 10.1111/liv.15573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInternational Autoimmune Hepatitis GroupAutoimmune hepatitisRare autoimmune liver diseaseMajor unmet clinical needClinical needAdult autoimmune hepatitisAutoimmune Hepatitis GroupAutoimmune liver diseaseLiver-related complicationsHealth-related qualityNew immunomodulatory therapiesInflammatory immune reactionsUnmet clinical needClinical trial designSpecific diagnostic testsQuality of lifeHepatitis groupNonselective immunosuppressionImmunomodulatory therapyLiver diseasePrognostic markerImmune reactionsPatient representativesTrial designCare delivery
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Study of Elafibranor in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) (ELATIVE)
HIC ID2000030228RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/30/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 75 yearsSeladelpar in Subjects With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
HIC ID2000030598RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 75 yearsPhase 2a Evaluation of Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of PLN-74809 in Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
HIC ID2000029307RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 75 yearsScreening In Anticipation of Future Research
HIC ID2000021443RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge2 years - 17 years
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Reviewer
Journal ServiceHepatologyAd hoc reviewer.Details2013 - Presenthonor Connecticut's Best Doctors 2019
Regional AwardConnecticut MagazineDetails08/28/2019United Statesactivity Roberts SJ,..., Assis DN. A small molecule inhibitor of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) significantly reduces liver injury in an antigen- and liver-specific pre-clinical model of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Abstract presented in oral format at the AASLD Liver Meeting. Oral Abstract #113
Oral PresentationRoberts SJ,..., Assis DN. A small molecule inhibitor of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) significantly reduces liver injury in an antigen- and liver-specific pre-clinical model of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Abstract presented in oral format at the AASLD Liver Meeting. Oral Abstract #113Details01/01/2017 - PresentWashington, DC, United StatesSponsored by Annual Liver Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
Clinical Care
Overview
David N. Assis, MD, is a hepatologist who treats patients with liver and digestive diseases at Yale Liver Clinics and Yale New Haven Hospital. He primarily focuses on autoimmune liver diseases (autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cholangitis) and is co-director of the Yale Autoimmune and Cholestatic Liver Diseases Program. He also has a clinical focus on liver and digestive complications of cystic fibrosis. To provide comfort to his patients, Dr. Assis tells them: “We will always support you and walk closely with you throughout your medical journey, and provide the most cutting-edge discoveries to offer the best possible care.”
Dr. Assis became a hepatologist because he was fascinated by chronic liver diseases, and autoimmune liver diseases, in particular. An assistant professor of medicine (Digestive Diseases) at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), he dedicates his research to investigating the causes, mechanisms of disease, and novel treatments for these complex, rare disorders. In 2014, he was honored with YSM’s Kushlan Junior Faculty Award for his research work.
Dr. Assis is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and current Chair of the Special Interest Group for Cholestatic and Autoimmune Liver Diseases. He is also a member of the scientific and medical advisory committee of PSC Partners Seeking a Cure and the Autoimmune Hepatitis Association, and a member of the International PSC Study Group.
Dr. Assis is optimistic about developing better treatments for his patients. “There is much to be discovered in this field, and we are excited to bring about great progress within the next several years,” he says.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Cirrhosis
Learn More on Yale MedicineUlcerative Colitis
Learn More on Yale MedicineInflammatory Bowel Disease
Learn More on Yale MedicineColonoscopy
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Board Certifications
Transpant Hepatology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Latest Certification Date
- 2015
- Original Certification Date
- 2014
Gastroenterology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2012
Internal Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Latest Certification Date
- 2018
- Original Certification Date
- 2008
Yale Medicine News
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News
- June 05, 2023
Yale Digestive Diseases Shares Latest Research in Chicago
- March 18, 2022
Teaching New Paths Forward in Digestive Health
- December 21, 2021
Yale Liver Center Hosts Diamond Jubilee
- October 13, 2021
Assis Receives Colton Award
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Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.