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David N. Assis, MD

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About

Titles

Associate Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)

Program Director, Gastroenterology Fellowship, Digestive Diseases

Biography

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

Other Departments & Organizations

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)

Autoimmune Diseases; Autoimmunity; Bile Ducts; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic; Cholangitis; Cholangitis, Sclerosing; Cholestasis; Cholestasis, Extrahepatic; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Cystic Fibrosis; Hepatitis; Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Immunotherapy; Liver; Liver Diseases; Translational Research, Biomedical

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of David N. Assis's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Hepatology

  • honor

    Connecticut's Best Doctors 2019

  • activity

    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

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

Gastroenterology; Hepatology

Fact Sheets

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

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