Jennifer M. Kwan, MD/PhD
Biography
Jennifer M. Kwan, MD, PhD, is a cardio-oncologist, a specialty that focuses on cardiovascular side effects caused by cancer treatment. She also has expertise in interpreting cardiac MRIs and CT scans, which helps her gain insights on the effects of cancer and cancer therapy on the heart.
Dr. Kwan grew up interested in medicine and science and engaged in public health and genetics research during her undergraduate years. “I realized I had a passion for medicine and research. And when volunteering in a clinic, I saw we had a limited arsenal to deal with things like genetic cardiomyopathies and getting them back to a good quality of life,” she says. “That is what spurred me to become a physician-scientist and pursue my MD and PhD.”
As someone who loves hiking and being physically active, Dr. Kwan says she was naturally drawn to the idea of how to slow down aging and improve one’s health span. “A healthy cardiovascular system is crucial to living well and keeping our mental faculties well into our old age, which brought me to cardiology as I wanted to keep the heart healthy,” she says. “In my PhD years, I worked in a cancer lab and explored how cancer formed and how cells differentiate into different tissues. The cancer research field, particularly when it comes to precision medicine, moves so quickly compared to cardiology, and I hope to change that.”
During her internal medicine residency, Dr. Kwan took care of two patients who were in their 30s and mothers to young children. Both women developed heart failure due to cancer treatment. “This inspired me to think of who is at risk of cardiac toxicities and what pathways we can target,” Dr. Kwan says, referring to damage to the heart caused by chemotherapy or immunotherapy. “If we can figure that out, we can try to prevent it.”
To further explore this question, Dr. Kwan did a visiting scholar rotation at the University of California-San Francisco to investigate oncologic therapy cardiotoxicities. In working with a multimillion patient dataset, this experience helped her realize the power of big data. She has been incorporating use of large datasets to mine them for insights between genomics and disease states, including in her current research in clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and other mutations that occur in our cells as we age, called somatic variants.
With age, one’s blood-forming stem cells acquire genetic mutations. This is often harmless, but sometimes, it can lead to CHIP, which can increase the risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and blood borne cancer. However, there are no current guidelines or therapies for this condition. Dr. Kwan is investigating CHIP’s prevalence and effects among cancer and heart failure patients and potential therapeutic targets.
“I encourage all of my patients to consider being involved in our research, which is crucial to better understanding their condition and can hopefully improve outcomes for people who come after them,” she says,
Titles
- Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)
Education & Training
- Visiting ScholarUCSF (2018)
- Resident/PostdocUI Chicago (2018)
- MSTP MD, PhD traineeUI Chicago (2013)
- BachelorsUC Berkeley (2005)
- SMART research trainingBaylor College of Medicine (2001)
Additional Information
- National Collegiate scholar: (2018)
- UI Chicago COM research day Postdoctoral fellow award Honorable mention to assess differential exosomal miRNA analyses between lean and obese individuals: (2016)
- Burrough’s Wellcome Fund travel award to ACTS: (2016)
- Cardiology NHBLI T32 postdoctoral fellowship: NIH (2015)
- UI Chicago College of Medicine Research First Place Gold prize award: (2014)
- UI Chicago Department of Medicine 1st place outstanding poster award: (2014)
- American Thoracic Society research scholarship: (2014)
- Ervin G. Erdös, MD and Sara F. Rabito Erdös, MD Prize for Excellence in Basic Sciences: (2013)
- Chancellor's Student Service Award (CSSA) for outstanding leadership: (2013)
- Eugertha Bates Memorial Award for outstanding leadership: (2013)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease (2021)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (2018)
- American Physician Scientists Association Board of Directors (2016 - Present): Furthering ongoing initiatives established as policy chair and advocacy for physician scientists at national level.
- Association of Clinical Translational Sciences (2013 - 2015): Organized sessions of digital health/big data translational research and physician scientist pipelines
- American Physician Scientists Association Vice President (2013 - 2014): Spearheaded various partnerships including AHA, Keystone Symposia, AMWA, Swiss MD PhD association and furthered others ie Canadian MD PhD association, European MD PhD association to address physician scientist training issues nationally and internationally.
- American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) Policy Chair (2009 - 2015): -Expanded NIH F30 funding from 10/27 institutes and centers (ICs) in 2007 when the F30 initiative was developed to adoption of the F30 funding mechanism by all funding NIH ICs. -Developed national initiative and study w/multi-center IRB approval to assess best practices of physician scientist friendly residency programs. -Developed national study and got multi-institution IRB approval to assess specialty/research interests, career intentions for research/clinic duties, challenges faced/anticipated by MD/PhD and MD trainees with results presented at national and international mtgs -Developed policy and advocacy panels at national mtgs featuring NIH, FDA, Industry and academic leaders -Spearheaded various partnerships (Keystone Symposia, AMWA etc) and events to address diversity and women in medicine/science disparities
- Leveille E, Cheheyeb R, Matute-Martinez C, Chen N, Jayakrishnan R, Christofides A, Lin D, Im Y, Biancon G, VanOudenhove J, Halene S, Kwan J. Clonal Hematopoiesis Is Associated With Cardiomyopathy During Solid Tumor Therapy. JACC CardioOncology 2024, 6: 605-607. PMID: 39239339, PMCID: PMC11372300, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2024.05.013.
- Obradovic A, Toubat O, Chen N, Siebert A, Jansen C, Christophers B, Leveille E, Noch E, Kwan J. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physician-scientist trainees to faculty one year into the pandemic. BMC Medical Education 2024, 24: 587. PMID: 38807106, PMCID: PMC11134762, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05541-9.
- Ye Z, Maayah M, Wang P, See C, Grubman S, Akhlaghi N, Allen S, Dong W, Ghare M, Gokhan I, Grubman D, Mezue K, Mottola G, Park D, Trejo-Paredes C, Shen M, Vemmou E, Abdullah A, Alaiwi S, Sharma S, Gupta N, Gandhi P, Wang Y, Kwan J, Hu J. INSTANT DIGITAL CONSULT FOR EVIDENCE-BASED INTERPRETATION OF HIGH-SENSITIVITY SERUM TROPONIN IN MYOCARDIAL INJURY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2024, 83: 2522. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(24)04512-1.
- Chen N, Martinez C, Jayakrishnan R, Jiang M, Guajardo A, Vanoudenhove J, Im Y, Hwa J, Halene S, Kwan J. CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS OF INDETERMINATE POTENTIAL (CHIP) IS AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR MYOCARDITIS. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2024, 83: 2492. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(24)04482-6.
- Chehayeb R, Hong D, Chen N, Martinez C, Jayakrishnan R, Guajardo A, Lin D, Im Y, Halene S, VanOudenhove J, Hwa J, Jha A, Kwan J. Abstract 3632: Cytokine profiles associated with ICI myocarditis using machine learning approaches identifies novel cytokines and implicated pathways. Cancer Research 2024, 84: 3632-3632. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-3632.
- Jayakrishnan R, Brongiel S, Luon D, Halene S, Kwan J. Abstract 2480: Treatment of steroid-refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis: A case series of 18 patients. Cancer Research 2024, 84: 2480-2480. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-2480.
- Maayah M, Grubman S, Allen S, Ye Z, Park D, Vemmou E, Gokhan I, Sun W, Possick S, Kwan J, Gandhi P, Hu J. Clinical Interpretation of Serum Troponin in the Era of High-Sensitivity Testing. Diagnostics 2024, 14: 503. PMID: 38472975, PMCID: PMC10930800, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14050503.
- Gokhan I, Dong W, Grubman D, Mezue K, Yang D, Wang Y, Gandhi P, Kwan J, Hu J. Clinical Biochemistry of Serum Troponin. Diagnostics 2024, 14: 378. PMID: 38396417, PMCID: PMC10887818, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040378.
- Chen N, Shen M, Rao V, Miranda J, Tan Z, Wei W, Testani J, Halene S, Gu J, Zhao H, Hwa J, Jha A, Kwan J. Abstract 17773: Novel Partition Scores Identify Pathways Implicated in Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) Mediated Heart Failure. Circulation 2023, 148: a17773-a17773. DOI: 10.1161/circ.148.suppl_1.17773.
- Kim D, Biancon G, Bai Z, VanOudenhove J, Liu Y, Kothari S, Gowda L, Kwan J, Buitrago‐Pocasangre N, Lele N, Asashima H, Racke M, Wilson J, Givens T, Tomayko M, Schulz W, Longbrake E, Hafler D, Halene S, Fan R. Microfluidic Immuno‐Serolomic Assay Reveals Systems Level Association with COVID‐19 Pathology and Vaccine Protection (Small Methods 10/2023). Small Methods 2023, 7 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202370057.
- Kim D, Biancon G, Bai Z, VanOudenhove J, Liu Y, Kothari S, Gowda L, Kwan J, Buitrago‐Pocasangre N, Lele N, Asashima H, Racke M, Wilson J, Givens T, Tomayko M, Schulz W, Longbrake E, Hafler D, Halene S, Fan R. Microfluidic Immuno‐Serolomic Assay Reveals Systems Level Association with COVID‐19 Pathology and Vaccine Protection. Small Methods 2023, 7: e2300594. PMID: 37312418, PMCID: PMC10592458, DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300594.
- Kwan J, Arbune A, Henry M, Hu R, Wei W, Nguyen V, Lee S, Lopez-Mattei J, Guha A, Huber S, Bader A, Meadows J, Sinusas A, Mojibian H, Peters D, Lustberg M, Hull S, Baldassarre L. Quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings and clinical risk factors predict cardiovascular outcomes in breast cancer patients. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0286364. PMID: 37252927, PMCID: PMC10228774, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286364.
- Stendahl J, Kwan J, Pucar D, Sadeghi M. Radiotracers to address unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular imaging, part 2: inflammation, fibrosis, thrombosis, calcification, and amyloidosis imaging. Chinese Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 43: 187-192. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn321828-20221103-00333.
- Stendahl J, Kwan J, Pucar D, Sadeghi M. Radiotracers to address unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular imaging, part 1: technical considerations and perfusion and neuronal imaging. Chinese Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 43: 122-128. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn321828-20221009-00301.
- Akhlaghi N, Shen M, Bow L, Miller M, Hwa J, Halene S, Baldassarre L, Kwan J. Abstract 13769: AT1R Autoantibody Levels Are Elevated in Patients Who Required Immunosuppression Escalation in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Mediated Myocarditis. Circulation 2022, 146: a13769-a13769. DOI: 10.1161/circ.146.suppl_1.13769.
- Pareek M, Steele J, Asnes J, Baldassarre L, Casale L, Desai N, Elder R, Faherty E, Ferguson I, Fishman R, Ghazizadeh Z, Glick L, Hall E, Khera R, Kokkinidis D, Kwan J, O'Marr J, Schussheim A, Tuohy E, Wang Y, Spatz E, Jacoby D, Miller E. Short-Term Outcomes After Myopericarditis Related to COVID-19 Vaccination. JACC Cardiovascular Imaging 2022, 15: 2002-2005. PMID: 36357140, PMCID: PMC9094612, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2022.03.026.
- Stendahl JC, Kwan JM, Pucar D, Sadeghi MM. Radiotracers to Address Unmet Clinical Needs in Cardiovascular Imaging, Part 1: Technical Considerations and Perfusion and Neuronal Imaging. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2022, 63: 649-658. PMID: 35487563, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263506.
- Marr M, Heffron A, Kwan J. Characteristics, barriers, and career intentions of a national cohort of LGBTQ+ MD/PhD and DO/PhD trainees. BMC Medical Education 2022, 22: 304. PMID: 35449040, PMCID: PMC9027045, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03378-8.
- Kwan JM, Oikonomou EK, Henry ML, Sinusas AJ. Multimodality Advanced Cardiovascular and Molecular Imaging for Early Detection and Monitoring of Cancer Therapy-Associated Cardiotoxicity and the Role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. Frontiers In Cardiovascular Medicine 2022, 9: 829553. PMID: 35369354, PMCID: PMC8964995, DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.829553.
- Kwan J, Shen M, Mankbadi M, Wang P, Zaman S, Lee S, Jiang M, Tao W, Wei W, Akhlaghi N. ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH KINASE INHIBITORS IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER REVEAL SPECIFIC RISK BASED ON THE KINASE INHIBITOR - A SINGLE-CENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2022, 79: 1924. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)02915-1.
- Kwan J, Akhlaghi N, Jiang M, Shen M, Im Y, Mankbadi M, Wang P, Zaman S, Lee S, Tao W, Wei W, Ma S. ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS - A SINGLE CENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2022, 79: 1909. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)02900-x.
- Snyder A, Xiang D, Smith A, Esswein S, Toubat O, Di Capua J, Kwan JM, Daye D. Gender disparities among medical students choosing to pursue careers in medical research: a secondary cross-sectional cohort analysis. BMC Medical Education 2021, 21: 591. PMID: 34823508, PMCID: PMC8620216, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-03004-z.
- Kwan J, Henry M, Cook K, Higgins A, Cuomo J, Foss F, Baldassarre L. Adverse cardiovascular events in patients treated with mogamulizumab. American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research And Practice 2021, 9: 100049. PMID: 38559371, PMCID: PMC10978139, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2021.100049.
- Kwan JM, Henry ML, Christophers B, Tamirisa K, Thamman R, Sadler D, Aggarwal NR, Cheng R, Parwani P, Dent S, Ismail-Khan R, Fradley MG, Brown SA. The Role and Impact of Social Media in Cardio-oncology During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Oncology Reports 2021, 23: 99. PMID: 34259950, PMCID: PMC8278372, DOI: 10.1007/s11912-021-01081-3.
- de Boer RA, Aboumsallem JP, Bracun V, Leedy D, Cheng R, Patel S, Rayan D, Zaharova S, Rymer J, Kwan JM, Levenson J, Ronco C, Thavendiranathan P, Brown SA. A new classification of cardio-oncology syndromes. Cardio-Oncology 2021, 7: 24. PMID: 34154667, PMCID: PMC8218489, DOI: 10.1186/s40959-021-00110-1.
- Kwan JM, Odanovic N, Arbune A, Higgins A, Henry M, Greif D, Foss F, Baldassarre LA. Mogamulizumab-Associated Acute Myocarditis in a Patient With T-Cell Lymphoma. JACC Case Reports 2021, 3: 1018-1023. PMID: 34317676, PMCID: PMC8311348, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2021.04.001.
- Cuomo J, Ragheb E, Feher A, Kwan J, Huber S, Mojibian H, Peters D, Sinusas A, Baldassarre L. 57884 Fast strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance detects immune checkpoint inhibitor associated cardiotoxicity. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2021, 5: 141-142. PMCID: PMC8827987, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2021.761.
- Meizlish ML, Pine AB, Bishai JD, Goshua G, Nadelmann ER, Simonov M, Chang CH, Zhang H, Shallow M, Bahel P, Owusu K, Yamamoto Y, Arora T, Atri DS, Patel A, Gbyli R, Kwan J, Won CH, Dela Cruz C, Price C, Koff J, King BA, Rinder HM, Wilson FP, Hwa J, Halene S, Damsky W, van Dijk D, Lee AI, Chun HJ. A neutrophil activation signature predicts critical illness and mortality in COVID-19. Blood Advances 2021, 5: 1164-1177. PMID: 33635335, PMCID: PMC7908851, DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003568.
- Higgins AY, Arbune A, Soufer A, Ragheb E, Kwan JM, Lamy J, Henry M, Cuomo JR, Charifa A, Gallegos C, Hull S, Coviello JS, Bader AS, Peters DC, Huber S, Mojibian HR, Sinusas AJ, Kluger H, Baldassarre LA. Left ventricular myocardial strain and tissue characterization by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in immune checkpoint inhibitor associated cardiotoxicity. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0246764. PMID: 33606757, PMCID: PMC7895343, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246764.
- Gu SX, Tyagi T, Jain K, Gu VW, Lee SH, Hwa JM, Kwan JM, Krause DS, Lee AI, Halene S, Martin KA, Chun HJ, Hwa J. Thrombocytopathy and endotheliopathy: crucial contributors to COVID-19 thromboinflammation. Nature Reviews Cardiology 2020, 18: 194-209. PMID: 33214651, PMCID: PMC7675396, DOI: 10.1038/s41569-020-00469-1.
- Siebert AL, Chou S, Toubat O, Adami AJ, Kim H, Daye D, Kwan JM. Factors associated with underrepresented minority physician scientist trainee career choices. BMC Medical Education 2020, 20: 422. PMID: 33176758, PMCID: PMC7656762, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02328-6.
- Pine AB, Meizlish ML, Goshua G, Chang C, Zhang H, Bishai J, Bahel P, Patel A, Gbyli R, Kwan JM, Won CH, Price C, Dela Cruz CS, Halene S, van Dijk D, Hwa J, Lee AI, Chun HJ. Circulating markers of angiogenesis and endotheliopathy in COVID‐19. Pulmonary Circulation 2020, 10: 1-4. PMID: 33282193, PMCID: PMC7691906, DOI: 10.1177/2045894020966547.
- Kwan JM, Toubat O, Harrison AM, Riddle M, Wu B, Kim H, Basta DW, Adami AJ, Daye D. A nationwide assessment of perceptions of research-intense academic careers among predoctoral MD and MD-PhD trainees. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2020, 4: 307-316. PMID: 33244411, PMCID: PMC7681110, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2020.18.
- Kwan J, Toubat O, Kim H, Daye D. A NATIONWIDE ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS INFLUENCING RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC CAREERS AMONG MD AND MD-PHD TRAINEES INTERESTED IN CARDIOLOGY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2020, 75: 3512. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(20)34139-5.
- Kwan JM, Cheng R, Feldman LE. Hepatotoxicity and Recurrent NSTEMI While on Pembrolizumab for Metastatic Giant Cell Bone Tumor. The American Journal Of The Medical Sciences 2019, 357: 343-347. PMID: 30638772, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2018.11.017.
- Kwan J, Arbune A, Henry M, Dupee D, Soufer A, Baldassarre L. CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURE TRACKING STRAIN AS A SENSITIVE MARKER OF CARDIOTOXICITY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS COMPARED WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2019, 73: 1666. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(19)32272-7.
- Kwan JM, Hajjiri Z, Chen YF, Metwally A, Perkins DL, Finn PW. Donor and Recipient Ethnicity Impacts Renal Graft Adverse Outcomes. Journal Of Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities 2018, 5: 1003-1013. PMID: 29270842, DOI: 10.1007/s40615-017-0447-9.
- Kwan JM, Daye D, Schmidt ML, Conlon CM, Kim H, Gaonkar B, Payne AS, Riddle M, Madera S, Adami AJ, Winter KQ. Exploring intentions of physician-scientist trainees: factors influencing MD and MD/PhD interest in research careers. BMC Medical Education 2017, 17: 115. PMID: 28697782, PMCID: PMC5505137, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-017-0954-8.
- Kwan JM, Hajjiri Z, Metwally A, Finn PW, Perkins DL. Effect of the Obesity Epidemic on Kidney Transplantation: Obesity Is Independent of Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Adverse Renal Transplant Outcomes. PloS One 2016, 11: e0165712. PMID: 27851743, PMCID: PMC5112887, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165712.
- Nakajima T, Lin KW, Li J, McGee HS, Kwan JM, Perkins DL, Finn PW. T cells and lung injury. Impact of rapamycin. American Journal Of Respiratory Cell And Molecular Biology 2014, 51: 294-9. PMID: 24641710, PMCID: PMC4148036, DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0171OC.
- Nogueira V, Sundararajan D, Kwan JM, Peng XD, Sarvepalli N, Sonenberg N, Hay N. Akt-dependent Skp2 mRNA translation is required for exiting contact inhibition, oncogenesis, and adipogenesis. The EMBO Journal 2012, 31: 1134-46. PMID: 22307088, PMCID: PMC3297989, DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2011.478.
- Kundu M, Thomas J, Fialho A, Kwan J, Moreira L, Mahfouz M, Das Gupta T, Chakrabarty A. The Anticancer Activity of the N-Terminal CARD-Like Domain of Arginine Deiminase (ADI) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Letters In Drug Design & Discovery 2009, 6: 403-412. DOI: 10.2174/157018009789057580.
- Kwan JM, Fialho AM, Kundu M, Thomas J, Hong CS, Gupta T, Chakrabarty AM. Bacterial proteins as potential drugs in the treatment of leukemia. Leukemia Research 2009, 33: 1392-1399. PMID: 19250673, DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.01.024.
- Choi SH, Byun HM, Kwan JM, Issa JP, Yang AS. Hydroxycarbamide in combination with azacitidine or decitabine is antagonistic on DNA methylation inhibition. British Journal Of Haematology 2007, 138: 616-23. PMID: 17686055, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06707.x.
- Wong HL, Byun HM, Kwan JM, Campan M, Ingles SA, Laird PW, Yang AS. Rapid and quantitative method of allele-specific DNA methylation analysis. BioTechniques 2006, 41: 734-9. PMID: 17191619, DOI: 10.2144/000112305.
- Chuang JC, Yoo CB, Kwan JM, Li TW, Liang G, Yang AS, Jones PA. Comparison of biological effects of non-nucleoside DNA methylation inhibitors versus 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2005, 4: 1515-20. PMID: 16227400, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-05-0172.
- Senger K, Armstrong GW, Rowell WJ, Kwan JM, Markstein M, Levine M. Immunity regulatory DNAs share common organizational features in Drosophila. Molecular Cell 2004, 13: 19-32. PMID: 14731391.
Biography
Jennifer M. Kwan, MD, PhD, is a cardio-oncologist, a specialty that focuses on cardiovascular side effects caused by cancer treatment. She also has expertise in interpreting cardiac MRIs and CT scans, which helps her gain insights on the effects of cancer and cancer therapy on the heart.
Dr. Kwan grew up interested in medicine and science and engaged in public health and genetics research during her undergraduate years. “I realized I had a passion for medicine and research. And when volunteering in a clinic, I saw we had a limited arsenal to deal with things like genetic cardiomyopathies and getting them back to a good quality of life,” she says. “That is what spurred me to become a physician-scientist and pursue my MD and PhD.”
As someone who loves hiking and being physically active, Dr. Kwan says she was naturally drawn to the idea of how to slow down aging and improve one’s health span. “A healthy cardiovascular system is crucial to living well and keeping our mental faculties well into our old age, which brought me to cardiology as I wanted to keep the heart healthy,” she says. “In my PhD years, I worked in a cancer lab and explored how cancer formed and how cells differentiate into different tissues. The cancer research field, particularly when it comes to precision medicine, moves so quickly compared to cardiology, and I hope to change that.”
During her internal medicine residency, Dr. Kwan took care of two patients who were in their 30s and mothers to young children. Both women developed heart failure due to cancer treatment. “This inspired me to think of who is at risk of cardiac toxicities and what pathways we can target,” Dr. Kwan says, referring to damage to the heart caused by chemotherapy or immunotherapy. “If we can figure that out, we can try to prevent it.”
To further explore this question, Dr. Kwan did a visiting scholar rotation at the University of California-San Francisco to investigate oncologic therapy cardiotoxicities. In working with a multimillion patient dataset, this experience helped her realize the power of big data. She has been incorporating use of large datasets to mine them for insights between genomics and disease states, including in her current research in clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and other mutations that occur in our cells as we age, called somatic variants.
With age, one’s blood-forming stem cells acquire genetic mutations. This is often harmless, but sometimes, it can lead to CHIP, which can increase the risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and blood borne cancer. However, there are no current guidelines or therapies for this condition. Dr. Kwan is investigating CHIP’s prevalence and effects among cancer and heart failure patients and potential therapeutic targets.
“I encourage all of my patients to consider being involved in our research, which is crucial to better understanding their condition and can hopefully improve outcomes for people who come after them,” she says,
Titles
- Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)
Education & Training
- Visiting ScholarUCSF (2018)
- Resident/PostdocUI Chicago (2018)
- MSTP MD, PhD traineeUI Chicago (2013)
- BachelorsUC Berkeley (2005)
- SMART research trainingBaylor College of Medicine (2001)
Additional Information
- National Collegiate scholar: (2018)
- UI Chicago COM research day Postdoctoral fellow award Honorable mention to assess differential exosomal miRNA analyses between lean and obese individuals: (2016)
- Burrough’s Wellcome Fund travel award to ACTS: (2016)
- Cardiology NHBLI T32 postdoctoral fellowship: NIH (2015)
- UI Chicago College of Medicine Research First Place Gold prize award: (2014)
- UI Chicago Department of Medicine 1st place outstanding poster award: (2014)
- American Thoracic Society research scholarship: (2014)
- Ervin G. Erdös, MD and Sara F. Rabito Erdös, MD Prize for Excellence in Basic Sciences: (2013)
- Chancellor's Student Service Award (CSSA) for outstanding leadership: (2013)
- Eugertha Bates Memorial Award for outstanding leadership: (2013)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease (2021)
- AB of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine (2018)
- American Physician Scientists Association Board of Directors (2016 - Present): Furthering ongoing initiatives established as policy chair and advocacy for physician scientists at national level.
- Association of Clinical Translational Sciences (2013 - 2015): Organized sessions of digital health/big data translational research and physician scientist pipelines
- American Physician Scientists Association Vice President (2013 - 2014): Spearheaded various partnerships including AHA, Keystone Symposia, AMWA, Swiss MD PhD association and furthered others ie Canadian MD PhD association, European MD PhD association to address physician scientist training issues nationally and internationally.
- American Physician Scientists Association (APSA) Policy Chair (2009 - 2015): -Expanded NIH F30 funding from 10/27 institutes and centers (ICs) in 2007 when the F30 initiative was developed to adoption of the F30 funding mechanism by all funding NIH ICs. -Developed national initiative and study w/multi-center IRB approval to assess best practices of physician scientist friendly residency programs. -Developed national study and got multi-institution IRB approval to assess specialty/research interests, career intentions for research/clinic duties, challenges faced/anticipated by MD/PhD and MD trainees with results presented at national and international mtgs -Developed policy and advocacy panels at national mtgs featuring NIH, FDA, Industry and academic leaders -Spearheaded various partnerships (Keystone Symposia, AMWA etc) and events to address diversity and women in medicine/science disparities
- Leveille E, Cheheyeb R, Matute-Martinez C, Chen N, Jayakrishnan R, Christofides A, Lin D, Im Y, Biancon G, VanOudenhove J, Halene S, Kwan J. Clonal Hematopoiesis Is Associated With Cardiomyopathy During Solid Tumor Therapy. JACC CardioOncology 2024, 6: 605-607. PMID: 39239339, PMCID: PMC11372300, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2024.05.013.
- Obradovic A, Toubat O, Chen N, Siebert A, Jansen C, Christophers B, Leveille E, Noch E, Kwan J. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physician-scientist trainees to faculty one year into the pandemic. BMC Medical Education 2024, 24: 587. PMID: 38807106, PMCID: PMC11134762, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05541-9.
- Ye Z, Maayah M, Wang P, See C, Grubman S, Akhlaghi N, Allen S, Dong W, Ghare M, Gokhan I, Grubman D, Mezue K, Mottola G, Park D, Trejo-Paredes C, Shen M, Vemmou E, Abdullah A, Alaiwi S, Sharma S, Gupta N, Gandhi P, Wang Y, Kwan J, Hu J. INSTANT DIGITAL CONSULT FOR EVIDENCE-BASED INTERPRETATION OF HIGH-SENSITIVITY SERUM TROPONIN IN MYOCARDIAL INJURY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2024, 83: 2522. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(24)04512-1.
- Chen N, Martinez C, Jayakrishnan R, Jiang M, Guajardo A, Vanoudenhove J, Im Y, Hwa J, Halene S, Kwan J. CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS OF INDETERMINATE POTENTIAL (CHIP) IS AN INDEPENDENT RISK FACTOR FOR IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR MYOCARDITIS. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2024, 83: 2492. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(24)04482-6.
- Chehayeb R, Hong D, Chen N, Martinez C, Jayakrishnan R, Guajardo A, Lin D, Im Y, Halene S, VanOudenhove J, Hwa J, Jha A, Kwan J. Abstract 3632: Cytokine profiles associated with ICI myocarditis using machine learning approaches identifies novel cytokines and implicated pathways. Cancer Research 2024, 84: 3632-3632. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-3632.
- Jayakrishnan R, Brongiel S, Luon D, Halene S, Kwan J. Abstract 2480: Treatment of steroid-refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis: A case series of 18 patients. Cancer Research 2024, 84: 2480-2480. DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-2480.
- Maayah M, Grubman S, Allen S, Ye Z, Park D, Vemmou E, Gokhan I, Sun W, Possick S, Kwan J, Gandhi P, Hu J. Clinical Interpretation of Serum Troponin in the Era of High-Sensitivity Testing. Diagnostics 2024, 14: 503. PMID: 38472975, PMCID: PMC10930800, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14050503.
- Gokhan I, Dong W, Grubman D, Mezue K, Yang D, Wang Y, Gandhi P, Kwan J, Hu J. Clinical Biochemistry of Serum Troponin. Diagnostics 2024, 14: 378. PMID: 38396417, PMCID: PMC10887818, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040378.
- Chen N, Shen M, Rao V, Miranda J, Tan Z, Wei W, Testani J, Halene S, Gu J, Zhao H, Hwa J, Jha A, Kwan J. Abstract 17773: Novel Partition Scores Identify Pathways Implicated in Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential (CHIP) Mediated Heart Failure. Circulation 2023, 148: a17773-a17773. DOI: 10.1161/circ.148.suppl_1.17773.
- Kim D, Biancon G, Bai Z, VanOudenhove J, Liu Y, Kothari S, Gowda L, Kwan J, Buitrago‐Pocasangre N, Lele N, Asashima H, Racke M, Wilson J, Givens T, Tomayko M, Schulz W, Longbrake E, Hafler D, Halene S, Fan R. Microfluidic Immuno‐Serolomic Assay Reveals Systems Level Association with COVID‐19 Pathology and Vaccine Protection (Small Methods 10/2023). Small Methods 2023, 7 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202370057.
- Kim D, Biancon G, Bai Z, VanOudenhove J, Liu Y, Kothari S, Gowda L, Kwan J, Buitrago‐Pocasangre N, Lele N, Asashima H, Racke M, Wilson J, Givens T, Tomayko M, Schulz W, Longbrake E, Hafler D, Halene S, Fan R. Microfluidic Immuno‐Serolomic Assay Reveals Systems Level Association with COVID‐19 Pathology and Vaccine Protection. Small Methods 2023, 7: e2300594. PMID: 37312418, PMCID: PMC10592458, DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300594.
- Kwan J, Arbune A, Henry M, Hu R, Wei W, Nguyen V, Lee S, Lopez-Mattei J, Guha A, Huber S, Bader A, Meadows J, Sinusas A, Mojibian H, Peters D, Lustberg M, Hull S, Baldassarre L. Quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings and clinical risk factors predict cardiovascular outcomes in breast cancer patients. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0286364. PMID: 37252927, PMCID: PMC10228774, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286364.
- Stendahl J, Kwan J, Pucar D, Sadeghi M. Radiotracers to address unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular imaging, part 2: inflammation, fibrosis, thrombosis, calcification, and amyloidosis imaging. Chinese Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 43: 187-192. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn321828-20221103-00333.
- Stendahl J, Kwan J, Pucar D, Sadeghi M. Radiotracers to address unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular imaging, part 1: technical considerations and perfusion and neuronal imaging. Chinese Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 43: 122-128. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn321828-20221009-00301.
- Akhlaghi N, Shen M, Bow L, Miller M, Hwa J, Halene S, Baldassarre L, Kwan J. Abstract 13769: AT1R Autoantibody Levels Are Elevated in Patients Who Required Immunosuppression Escalation in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Mediated Myocarditis. Circulation 2022, 146: a13769-a13769. DOI: 10.1161/circ.146.suppl_1.13769.
- Pareek M, Steele J, Asnes J, Baldassarre L, Casale L, Desai N, Elder R, Faherty E, Ferguson I, Fishman R, Ghazizadeh Z, Glick L, Hall E, Khera R, Kokkinidis D, Kwan J, O'Marr J, Schussheim A, Tuohy E, Wang Y, Spatz E, Jacoby D, Miller E. Short-Term Outcomes After Myopericarditis Related to COVID-19 Vaccination. JACC Cardiovascular Imaging 2022, 15: 2002-2005. PMID: 36357140, PMCID: PMC9094612, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2022.03.026.
- Stendahl JC, Kwan JM, Pucar D, Sadeghi MM. Radiotracers to Address Unmet Clinical Needs in Cardiovascular Imaging, Part 1: Technical Considerations and Perfusion and Neuronal Imaging. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2022, 63: 649-658. PMID: 35487563, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263506.
- Marr M, Heffron A, Kwan J. Characteristics, barriers, and career intentions of a national cohort of LGBTQ+ MD/PhD and DO/PhD trainees. BMC Medical Education 2022, 22: 304. PMID: 35449040, PMCID: PMC9027045, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03378-8.
- Kwan JM, Oikonomou EK, Henry ML, Sinusas AJ. Multimodality Advanced Cardiovascular and Molecular Imaging for Early Detection and Monitoring of Cancer Therapy-Associated Cardiotoxicity and the Role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. Frontiers In Cardiovascular Medicine 2022, 9: 829553. PMID: 35369354, PMCID: PMC8964995, DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.829553.
- Kwan J, Shen M, Mankbadi M, Wang P, Zaman S, Lee S, Jiang M, Tao W, Wei W, Akhlaghi N. ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH KINASE INHIBITORS IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER REVEAL SPECIFIC RISK BASED ON THE KINASE INHIBITOR - A SINGLE-CENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2022, 79: 1924. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)02915-1.
- Kwan J, Akhlaghi N, Jiang M, Shen M, Im Y, Mankbadi M, Wang P, Zaman S, Lee S, Tao W, Wei W, Ma S. ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS - A SINGLE CENTER RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2022, 79: 1909. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)02900-x.
- Snyder A, Xiang D, Smith A, Esswein S, Toubat O, Di Capua J, Kwan JM, Daye D. Gender disparities among medical students choosing to pursue careers in medical research: a secondary cross-sectional cohort analysis. BMC Medical Education 2021, 21: 591. PMID: 34823508, PMCID: PMC8620216, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-03004-z.
- Kwan J, Henry M, Cook K, Higgins A, Cuomo J, Foss F, Baldassarre L. Adverse cardiovascular events in patients treated with mogamulizumab. American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research And Practice 2021, 9: 100049. PMID: 38559371, PMCID: PMC10978139, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2021.100049.
- Kwan JM, Henry ML, Christophers B, Tamirisa K, Thamman R, Sadler D, Aggarwal NR, Cheng R, Parwani P, Dent S, Ismail-Khan R, Fradley MG, Brown SA. The Role and Impact of Social Media in Cardio-oncology During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current Oncology Reports 2021, 23: 99. PMID: 34259950, PMCID: PMC8278372, DOI: 10.1007/s11912-021-01081-3.
- de Boer RA, Aboumsallem JP, Bracun V, Leedy D, Cheng R, Patel S, Rayan D, Zaharova S, Rymer J, Kwan JM, Levenson J, Ronco C, Thavendiranathan P, Brown SA. A new classification of cardio-oncology syndromes. Cardio-Oncology 2021, 7: 24. PMID: 34154667, PMCID: PMC8218489, DOI: 10.1186/s40959-021-00110-1.
- Kwan JM, Odanovic N, Arbune A, Higgins A, Henry M, Greif D, Foss F, Baldassarre LA. Mogamulizumab-Associated Acute Myocarditis in a Patient With T-Cell Lymphoma. JACC Case Reports 2021, 3: 1018-1023. PMID: 34317676, PMCID: PMC8311348, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2021.04.001.
- Cuomo J, Ragheb E, Feher A, Kwan J, Huber S, Mojibian H, Peters D, Sinusas A, Baldassarre L. 57884 Fast strain-encoded cardiac magnetic resonance detects immune checkpoint inhibitor associated cardiotoxicity. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2021, 5: 141-142. PMCID: PMC8827987, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2021.761.
- Meizlish ML, Pine AB, Bishai JD, Goshua G, Nadelmann ER, Simonov M, Chang CH, Zhang H, Shallow M, Bahel P, Owusu K, Yamamoto Y, Arora T, Atri DS, Patel A, Gbyli R, Kwan J, Won CH, Dela Cruz C, Price C, Koff J, King BA, Rinder HM, Wilson FP, Hwa J, Halene S, Damsky W, van Dijk D, Lee AI, Chun HJ. A neutrophil activation signature predicts critical illness and mortality in COVID-19. Blood Advances 2021, 5: 1164-1177. PMID: 33635335, PMCID: PMC7908851, DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003568.
- Higgins AY, Arbune A, Soufer A, Ragheb E, Kwan JM, Lamy J, Henry M, Cuomo JR, Charifa A, Gallegos C, Hull S, Coviello JS, Bader AS, Peters DC, Huber S, Mojibian HR, Sinusas AJ, Kluger H, Baldassarre LA. Left ventricular myocardial strain and tissue characterization by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in immune checkpoint inhibitor associated cardiotoxicity. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0246764. PMID: 33606757, PMCID: PMC7895343, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246764.
- Gu SX, Tyagi T, Jain K, Gu VW, Lee SH, Hwa JM, Kwan JM, Krause DS, Lee AI, Halene S, Martin KA, Chun HJ, Hwa J. Thrombocytopathy and endotheliopathy: crucial contributors to COVID-19 thromboinflammation. Nature Reviews Cardiology 2020, 18: 194-209. PMID: 33214651, PMCID: PMC7675396, DOI: 10.1038/s41569-020-00469-1.
- Siebert AL, Chou S, Toubat O, Adami AJ, Kim H, Daye D, Kwan JM. Factors associated with underrepresented minority physician scientist trainee career choices. BMC Medical Education 2020, 20: 422. PMID: 33176758, PMCID: PMC7656762, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02328-6.
- Pine AB, Meizlish ML, Goshua G, Chang C, Zhang H, Bishai J, Bahel P, Patel A, Gbyli R, Kwan JM, Won CH, Price C, Dela Cruz CS, Halene S, van Dijk D, Hwa J, Lee AI, Chun HJ. Circulating markers of angiogenesis and endotheliopathy in COVID‐19. Pulmonary Circulation 2020, 10: 1-4. PMID: 33282193, PMCID: PMC7691906, DOI: 10.1177/2045894020966547.
- Kwan JM, Toubat O, Harrison AM, Riddle M, Wu B, Kim H, Basta DW, Adami AJ, Daye D. A nationwide assessment of perceptions of research-intense academic careers among predoctoral MD and MD-PhD trainees. Journal Of Clinical And Translational Science 2020, 4: 307-316. PMID: 33244411, PMCID: PMC7681110, DOI: 10.1017/cts.2020.18.
- Kwan J, Toubat O, Kim H, Daye D. A NATIONWIDE ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS INFLUENCING RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC CAREERS AMONG MD AND MD-PHD TRAINEES INTERESTED IN CARDIOLOGY. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2020, 75: 3512. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(20)34139-5.
- Kwan JM, Cheng R, Feldman LE. Hepatotoxicity and Recurrent NSTEMI While on Pembrolizumab for Metastatic Giant Cell Bone Tumor. The American Journal Of The Medical Sciences 2019, 357: 343-347. PMID: 30638772, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2018.11.017.
- Kwan J, Arbune A, Henry M, Dupee D, Soufer A, Baldassarre L. CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURE TRACKING STRAIN AS A SENSITIVE MARKER OF CARDIOTOXICITY IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS COMPARED WITH LEFT VENTRICULAR EJECTION FRACTION. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2019, 73: 1666. DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(19)32272-7.
- Kwan JM, Hajjiri Z, Chen YF, Metwally A, Perkins DL, Finn PW. Donor and Recipient Ethnicity Impacts Renal Graft Adverse Outcomes. Journal Of Racial And Ethnic Health Disparities 2018, 5: 1003-1013. PMID: 29270842, DOI: 10.1007/s40615-017-0447-9.
- Kwan JM, Daye D, Schmidt ML, Conlon CM, Kim H, Gaonkar B, Payne AS, Riddle M, Madera S, Adami AJ, Winter KQ. Exploring intentions of physician-scientist trainees: factors influencing MD and MD/PhD interest in research careers. BMC Medical Education 2017, 17: 115. PMID: 28697782, PMCID: PMC5505137, DOI: 10.1186/s12909-017-0954-8.
- Kwan JM, Hajjiri Z, Metwally A, Finn PW, Perkins DL. Effect of the Obesity Epidemic on Kidney Transplantation: Obesity Is Independent of Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Adverse Renal Transplant Outcomes. PloS One 2016, 11: e0165712. PMID: 27851743, PMCID: PMC5112887, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165712.
- Nakajima T, Lin KW, Li J, McGee HS, Kwan JM, Perkins DL, Finn PW. T cells and lung injury. Impact of rapamycin. American Journal Of Respiratory Cell And Molecular Biology 2014, 51: 294-9. PMID: 24641710, PMCID: PMC4148036, DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0171OC.
- Nogueira V, Sundararajan D, Kwan JM, Peng XD, Sarvepalli N, Sonenberg N, Hay N. Akt-dependent Skp2 mRNA translation is required for exiting contact inhibition, oncogenesis, and adipogenesis. The EMBO Journal 2012, 31: 1134-46. PMID: 22307088, PMCID: PMC3297989, DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2011.478.
- Kundu M, Thomas J, Fialho A, Kwan J, Moreira L, Mahfouz M, Das Gupta T, Chakrabarty A. The Anticancer Activity of the N-Terminal CARD-Like Domain of Arginine Deiminase (ADI) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Letters In Drug Design & Discovery 2009, 6: 403-412. DOI: 10.2174/157018009789057580.
- Kwan JM, Fialho AM, Kundu M, Thomas J, Hong CS, Gupta T, Chakrabarty AM. Bacterial proteins as potential drugs in the treatment of leukemia. Leukemia Research 2009, 33: 1392-1399. PMID: 19250673, DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.01.024.
- Choi SH, Byun HM, Kwan JM, Issa JP, Yang AS. Hydroxycarbamide in combination with azacitidine or decitabine is antagonistic on DNA methylation inhibition. British Journal Of Haematology 2007, 138: 616-23. PMID: 17686055, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06707.x.
- Wong HL, Byun HM, Kwan JM, Campan M, Ingles SA, Laird PW, Yang AS. Rapid and quantitative method of allele-specific DNA methylation analysis. BioTechniques 2006, 41: 734-9. PMID: 17191619, DOI: 10.2144/000112305.
- Chuang JC, Yoo CB, Kwan JM, Li TW, Liang G, Yang AS, Jones PA. Comparison of biological effects of non-nucleoside DNA methylation inhibitors versus 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2005, 4: 1515-20. PMID: 16227400, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-05-0172.
- Senger K, Armstrong GW, Rowell WJ, Kwan JM, Markstein M, Levine M. Immunity regulatory DNAs share common organizational features in Drosophila. Molecular Cell 2004, 13: 19-32. PMID: 14731391.