Rafeul Alam, MD, PhD

Special Interests

1. Basic Science Research: The major research interest of the laboratory are 1) Mechanism of formation of ILC2 memory for allergen-associated PAMPs; 2) DNA sensor-driven airway neutrophilic inflammation.

2. Translational/Clinical Research: The major interest is to identify key cells, pathways and molecules involved in type-2 (eosinophilic) and non-type-2 (neutrophilic) endotypes of asthma.

Education

Education

1974 - 1980

Lodz Medical School (Lodz, Poland), MD

Residency

1981 - 1983

Lodz Medical School (Lodz, Poland), Internal Medicine

Fellowship

1987 - 1988

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Allergy-Immunology

Awards & Recognition

2024 July, HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, member
2021 November, HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, Chair
2021 June: HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, NIH, Ad Hoc member
2020 October: HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, NIH, Chair
2016-2020: HAI Study Section, NIH, Standing Member
2015: Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award, 2015, National Jewish Health, Denver
2014-2021: Best Doctors in America (Best Doctors, Inc), Top Doctors (US News and World Report)
2012: Election to Association of American Physicians (AAP)
1997: Election to American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
2000: Sealy & Smith Distinguished Centennial Chair in Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch
1993: Pharmacia Allergy Research Foundation Award (an International Contest)
1989: Burroughs Welcome Developing Investigator Award
1987: Clemens von Pirquet Award of the American College of Allergists
1985: Annual Award of the Polish Society of Allergists for the best Ph.D. dissertation
1980: Copernicus Gold Prize of the Polish Ministry of Sciences and Higher Education
1980: M.D. Valedictorian, Class of 1980, Lodz Medical University
1980: Ranked First in All-Poland Medical Graduate Final Examination

Board Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Allergy and Immunology

Professional Memberships

2012-Present: Association of American Physicians
1997-Present: American Society for Clinical Investigation
1993-Present: Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
1992-Present: American College of Physicians
1989-Present: American Thoracic Society
1989-Present: American Association of Immunologists
1988-Present: American Academy of Allergy and Immunology
1986-Present: American College of Allergists

Publications

Verma M, Verma D, Sripada AS, Sirohi K, Varma R, Sahu A, Alam R. NFκB1 inhibits memory formation and supports effector function of ILC2s in memory-driven asthma. Front Immunol. 2023 Jul 27;14:1217776. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1217776. PMID: 37575259; PMCID: PMC10415221.

Galant-Swafford J, Druey KM, Verma D, Alam R. Identification of a heterozygous pathogenic variant in IRAK4 in an adult patient with pneumococcal sepsis, monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, and idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome. J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob. 2023 Aug;2(3):100116. doi: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100116. Epub 2023 May 18. PMID: 37304620; PMCID: PMC10249487.

Liu S, Sirohi K, Verma M, McKay J, Michalec L, Sripada A, Danhorn T, Rollins D, Good J, Martin RJ, Gorska MM and Alam R. Optimal identification of human conventional and nonconventional (CRTH2^-IL7Rα^-) ILC2s using additional surface markers. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020;146(2):390-405. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.01.038.

Sripada A, Sirohi K, Michalec L, Gorentla B, Guo L, McKay J, Yadav S, Verma M, Good J, Rollins D, Gorska MM and Alam R.  Sprouty2 positively regulates T cell function and airway inflammation through regulation of CSK and LCK.  PLoS Biol. 2021 Mar 8;19(3):e3001063. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001063. PMID: 33684096.

Verma M, Michalec L, Sripada A, McKay J, Sirohi K, Verma D, Sheth D, Martin R, Dyjack N, Seibold MA, Knapp JR, Tu TH, O'Connor BP, Gorska MM, Alam R. The molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) memory and its relevance for asthma. J Exp Med. 2021 Jul 5;218(7):e20201354. doi: 10.1084/jem.20201354. Epub 2021 Jun 2. PMID: 34076685; PMCID: PMC8176441.

Academic Affiliations

Faculty Affiliate, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Website Information

Alam Laboratory

Conflicts of Interest

National Jewish Health physicians and scientists may collaborate with pharmaceutical or other industries to develop medical and scientific breakthroughs or to provide education on trends in quality medical practice and outcomes to physicians and health professionals around the country. National Jewish Health maintains a strict conflict of interest policy to ensure that all potential conflicts are clearly visible and that management plans are put in place in order to further innovation and education while ensuring the protection of our patients and the integrity of our research. National Jewish Health publicly discloses any payment to our physicians or scientists. View this faculty member’s industry relationships and collaborations.