About

Brian Chih-Hung Chiu is a Professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Public Health Sciences. His research investigates the causes and outcomes of lymphoma and multiple myeloma in racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse populations using integrated modern molecular techniques and epidemiologic approaches. His main focus areas include developing novel epigenetics-based biomarkers in circulating cell-free DNA for cancer prognostication and management, identifying lifestyle, biological, and treatment factors influencing survival and outcomes in multiple myeloma patients, and studying lifestyles, environmental exposures, genetics, and epigenetics associated with the risks of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Dr. Chiu is an active participant in large international consortia such as the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph), the International Multiple Myeloma Consortium, and the NCI AsiaLymph. His ongoing NIH-funded projects include studies on epigenetic signatures in circulating DNA, liquid biopsy-based biomarker discovery, and disparities in multiple myeloma development and outcomes. He collaborates on international investigations into environmental and genetic factors contributing to lymphoid malignancies and has led studies examining racial disparities in lymphoma and myeloma. His work emphasizes translational population research, molecular epidemiology, and epigenetics, contributing significantly to understanding the biological and environmental determinants of lymphoid cancers.

Research topics

• Internal medicine
• Medicine
• Oncology
• Environmental health
• Genetics
• Psychiatry
• Biology
• Gerontology

Selected publications

• Healthcare access and utilization of deep brain stimulation and supplementary care in black and white patients with Parkinson's disease

  Parkinsonism & Related Disorders · 2025-09-23

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Information comparing healthcare access and utilization between Black and White patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly for deep brain stimulation (DBS) and supplementary care, remains sparse due to the lack of large Black population in a majority of healthcare facilities and limited scope of information in electronic datasets. We hypothesized that Black PD patients are less likely to have implantation for DBS due to many reasons, including ones not explored yet such as a lower likelihood of being assessed for DBS and/or acceptance for DBS when indicated, but more likely to have supplementary care. METHODS: We searched electronic medical records in our tertiary center between January 1, 2006 and October 1, 2021, followed by chart reviewing and extracting demographics, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and healthcare access and utilization, including medications, DBS and supplementary care. Of 2827 patients in records, 1211 were assessed by movement neurologists here, who verified the diagnosis in 882 of them (72.8 %). We included 846 patients (95.9 %) (Black/White 255/591) with needed information for analysis. RESULTS: Compared to White patients, Black patients lacked male predominance, had lower socioeconomic status, more comorbidities, and frequent care in emergency/inpatient settings. There was no difference in overall medication use, but Black patients were less likely to have implantation and evaluation for DBS, and to accept DBS when indicated, and more likely to have supplementary care. CONCLUSIONS: Black patients are less likely to have DBS implantation, evaluation, and acceptance but more likely to have supplementary care compared to White patients. These new findings could help improve healthcare.

  PublisherDOI

• 8287355 Assessing the effectiveness of automatically assigning occupational exposure modules in a multi-center hospital-based case-control study in Asia

  2025-10-01

  articleOpen access

  <h3>Objective</h3> Exposure-oriented questionnaire modules provide crucial task information for occupational exposure assessment. We evaluated the effectiveness of an algorithm for automatically assigning modules during interviews in a hospital-based case-control study in Asia. <h3>Methods</h3> We used a rule-based expert system based on a keyword search of occupational history responses and screening questions pertaining to paints/stains, solvents/glues/degreasers, and engineered woods to assign jobs to one of 23 modules. If no module was identified, we assigned a Work Location module that redirected some participants to more detailed modules. Post interview, each job was coded to standardized occupation and industry classifications. For each job and industry code we determined the ‘ideal’ module. We reviewed each ‘ideal’ vs. ‘assigned’ module combination and characterized potential information loss: none, task loss, and industry loss. We evaluated the screening questions’ positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) compared to task responses for jobs assigned the Solvent module. For those redirected from the Work Location to the Solvent module, we calculated the task prevalence. <h3>Results</h3> The algorithm assignment for 26,608 jobs was based on keywords for 55.4% and screening questions for 8.6%; the remainder received the work location module. Potential information loss was identified for 8.8% of jobs (7.2% task loss; 1.6% industry loss). For the 5,847 jobs completing the Solvent module, the overall PPV and NPV of the screening questions was 82.4% and 70.0%, respectively, with higher NPVs for engineered woods and paints/stains than for solvents/glues/degreasers. The Work Location re-directed 663 jobs to the Solvent module; the most frequently-reported activities for these jobs were cleaning hands with solvents (14%), paint bystander (8.0%), cleaning/degreasing bystander (5.1%) and glues/adhesives bystander (5.0%). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Overall, our automated approach resulted in excellent capture of tasks of interest. Jobs identified with potential information loss will be prioritized for additional review during exposure assessment efforts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effect of dopaminergic medications on Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Parkinson's disease patients

  Parkinsonism & Related Disorders · 2025-07-07

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Racial disparities in multiple myeloma: biological heterogeneity, treatment access, and prognostic implications

  Leukemia & lymphoma/Leukemia and lymphoma · 2025-10-31

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding

  Unlike the well-recognized two-fold higher incidence rate and an earlier age of onset of MM among African Americans (AA) compared to European Americans (EA) in the United States, findings on racial disparities in survival outcomes of MM are inconclusive, ranging from worse survival, to no difference, to better overall survival in AA patients than EA patients. The clinical outcomes for patients with MM depend on a complex interplay of factors including age, disease severity, cytogenetics, treatment modalities, biological features of the responsible clone, and non-biological factors such as treatment utilization and access to care. This review focuses on genetic and molecular heterogeneity of the disease biology and characteristics among MM patients from different populations. The review discusses possible determinants of racial and ethnic disparities in the outcomes of MM and considers potential strategies to address them with an ultimate goal of decreasing MM health disparities.

  PublisherDOI

• A proteome‐wide analysis unveils a core <scp>Epstein–Barr</scp> virus antibody signature of classic <scp>Hodgkin</scp> lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations

  International Journal of Cancer · 2024-07-12 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access

  Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic virus associated with various malignancies, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Despite its known association, the specific role of humoral immune response to EBV remains poorly characterized in cHL. To address this, we conducted a study using a custom protein microarray to measure the antibody responses in cHL patients and matched healthy controls recruited from an East-Asian hospital-based case-control study. We identified 16 IgG antibodies significantly elevated in EBV-positive cHL compared with controls, defining an "East-Asian antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL." We evaluated responses against these 16 antibodies in a distinct European population, leveraging data from our previous European cHL case-control study from the UK, Denmark, and Sweden. A subset of antibodies (14/16, 87.5%) from the "East-Asian antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL" exhibited significant associations with cHL in the European population. Conversely, we assessed the "European antibody signature of EBV-positive cHL" identified in our prior study which consisted of 18 EBV antibodies (2 IgA, 16 IgG), in the East-Asian population. A subset of these antibodies (15/18, 83.3%) maintained significant associations with cHL in the East-Asian population. This cross-comparison of antibody signatures underscores the robust generalizability of EBV antibodies across populations. Five anti-EBV IgG antibodies (LMP-1, TK, BALF2, BDLF3, and BBLF1), found in both population-specific antibody signatures, represent a "core signature of EBV-positive cHL." Our findings suggest that the antibody responses targeting these core EBV proteins reflect a specific EBV gene expression pattern, serving as potential biomarkers for EBV-positive cHL independent of population-specific factors.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• CRAFTING A COORDINATED, ADAPTIVE MEDICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM WITHIN AN INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CONTEXT BETWEEN CANADA AND CHINA

  INTED proceedings · 2024-03-01

  article

  CRAFTING A COORDINATED, ADAPTIVE MEDICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM WITHIN AN INTERNATIONAL LEARNING CONTEXT BETWEEN CANADA AND CHINA

  PublisherDOI

• P-484 Infertility stigma, openness with others, and their relationship to depression and meaning in life among men and women experiencing infertility

  Human Reproduction · 2024-07-01 · 1 citations

  article

  Abstract Study question Does infertility-related stigma and being open with others relate to depression and meaning in life among men and women experiencing infertility? Summary answer Higher infertility stigma was related to higher depression and search for meaning, whereas higher openness was related to lower depression and higher presence of meaning. What is known already For men experiencing infertility, there is relatively scarce knowledge about the relationship between infertility stigma, openness, depression, and meaning in life. For women, previous studies have found that higher levels of infertility stigma are associated with higher levels of hopelessness (Kaya &amp; Oskay, 2020). Studies have also found that the presence of meaning in women is associated with the use of more adaptive coping strategies for infertility, while the search for meaning is associated with higher levels of depression (Morse &amp; Steger, 2019). Men who reported greater openness with others about infertility, reported lower depression (Babore, et al., 2017). Study design, size, duration The design was a cross-sectional survey where participants completed demographic and infertility information along with validated measures of meaning in life, depression, openness, and perceptions of stigma regarding their infertility. Participants were recruited via announcements on infertility discussion listservs and social media accounts in the United States. Data were collected in November-December of 2023. Participants were 89 men and 458 women who reported an infertility diagnosis. Eighty-one percent of participants were from the United States. Participants/materials, setting, methods The key outcome variables were the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression measure (Zhang et al., 2012) and the Meaning in Life measure, which consists of two 5-item subscales, Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning (Steger et al., 2006). Along with demographic and infertility factors, key psychological variables were measured including infertility stigma (Fu et al., 2015) and openness with others and their partner about their infertility experience (Babore, 2017). Participants mean age was 33. Main results and the role of chance Multiple linear hierarchical regression models explained substantial variance (adjusted R-squared) for depression (48% men; 29% women), presence of meaning (28% men; 27% women), and search for meaning (22% men; 16% women). Men and women who reported higher levels of personal infertility stigma had higher levels of depression (Betas = .23 men and .24 women; ps &amp;lt; .05), as well as higher levels of searching for meaning (Beta = .26 men, p = .051; Beta = .16 women, p = .016). Higher stigma was also associated with lower presence of meaning in women (Beta = -.233, ps &amp;lt;.001). Men and women who reported higher levels of openness with others about infertility reported substantially lower levels of depression (Betas = -.51 men and -.32 women; ps &amp;lt;.001), and greater presence of meaning in life (Betas = .29 men and .22 women; ps &amp;lt; .05). Openness with others was also associated with lower search for meaning among women (Beta = -.127, p = .011). Women who were currently in treatment reported more depression compared to both women who were never in treatment (Beta = -.245, p = .019), and women who had previously been in treatment (Beta = -.244, p = .031). Limitations, reasons for caution This study provided the rare opportunity to examine infertility and mental health among men, but caution is necessary when interpreting these results due to the relatively small sample size. The correlational findings do not allow for inferences of causality, and testing the generalizability of findings is an important next step. Wider implications of the findings The study highlights that higher infertility stigma and lower openness with others are key factors in understanding men and women’s mental health and worldview perceptions. Encouraging individuals with infertility to share their experiences with others may reduce feelings of depression, while also increasing one’s sense of meaning in life. Trial registration number not applicable

  PublisherDOI

• Population differences in the associations between chromosomal abnormalities and overall survival of multiple myeloma

  Blood Neoplasia · 2024-12-26 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Cytogenetic abnormalities influence the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). How these abnormalities associate with overall survival (OS) in European Americans (EAs) and African Americans (AAs) remains unclear. We collected data on fluorescence in situ hybridization targeting 17 cytogenetic abnormalities from 181 patients newly diagnosed with MM between 2010 and 2019. Vital status was ascertained using the National Death Index. Baseline clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Established high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs) include t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), del 17p, and gain/amplification of 1q. In each population, we evaluated the associations between cytogenetic abnormalities and OS. Among 55 AAs and 126 EAs, 65 deaths occurred (median follow-up: 5.8 years). The distribution of the abnormalities was similar between EAs and AAs. High-risk MM, characterized by HRCAs, was associated with worse OS in EAs (hazard ratio [HR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-5.5), but not AAs. Del 13q was associated with worse OS in both populations. Gain/amplification of 1q was associated with poorer OS in EAs (HR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.3-9.3) but not AAs, whereas t(4;14) was associated with poorer OS in AAs (HR, 14.51; 95% CI, 2.3-92.3) but not EAs. These associations remained after controlling for prognostic factors or other HRCAs, highlighting the potential of population heterogeneity in the prognostic significance of cytogenetic abnormalities.

  PublisherDOI

• Genome-wide 5-hydroxymethylation mapping and epigenetic pathways in multiple myeloma.

  Journal of Clinical Oncology · 2024-06-01

  article

  7566 Background: Multiple myeloma (MM), a B-cell neoplasm characterized by bone marrow infiltration of malignant plasma cells, is the second most common blood malignancy, with an estimated number of ~35,000 new patients annually in the United States. The molecular pathogenesis of MM is complex and involves various genetic and epigenetic alterations. Key molecular mechanisms, including chromosomal abnormalities such as translocations involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus and various oncogenes (e.g., MMSET, FGFR3, CCND1, MAF), alterations in epigenetic regulators (e.g., EZH2, DNMT3A), dysregulation of cell cycle control, and aberrant activation of signaling pathways (e.g., NF-kB, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT), play critical roles in MM pathogenesis. However, epigenetic pathways implicated in MM has not been comprehensively investigated, partly due to technical limitations that cannot distinguish major cytosine modification types. Methods: Using the 5hmC-Seal, a highly sensitive chemical labeling technique, we profiled genome-wide 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC) in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from a population-based case-control study of MM (cases, n = 313; controls, n = 317) conducted in Canada. Results: The 5hmC modification levels were summarized for various genomic features, showing an enrichment in gene bodies and enhancer markers, consistent with the putative role of gene regulation for 5hmC modification. A genome-wide scan of gene bodies identified 771 differential features between cases and controls, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, education, and first two principal components, at a permutation-based empirical p-value cutoff of 10 -4 . For instance, IL1RAP, a component of the interleukin-1 signaling cascade, may impact tumor progression and immune system evasion. Furthermore, functional analysis indicated canonical pathways associated with MM pathology and treatment, such as calcium signaling, and synthesis and secretion of cortisol/aldosterone, were enriched in the differential 5hmC features between cases and controls. Notably, the calcium signaling pathway, integral to Ca 2+ transport and involved in various physiological and pathological processes, plays a critical role in MM pathogenesis. Within this pathway, the CAMK1D gene, which has been identified as a crucial regulator of tumor-intrinsic immune resistance, showed differential 5hmC level between cases and controls, highlighting a vital connection between epigenetic modifications and immune evasion mechanisms in MM. Conclusions: Leveraging a state-of-the-art technique, we identified novel epigenetic modifications and pathways in the risk of MM. This approach establishes a solid foundation for further investigating etiology of MM, deepening our understanding of the disease, and advancing the discovery of biomarkers, which could potentially guide preventive strategies.

  PublisherDOI

• Incidence Trends for EBV-Associated Malignancies Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma and Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Taiwan

  Blood · 2024-11-05

  articleOpen access

  Both nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence patterns of ENKTL and NPC in Taiwan during the previous 15-30 years. We conducted an epidemiological study using population-based registry data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry to assess the incidence of ENKTL from 2008 to 2021 and NPC from 1995 to 2021. The secular trends in the annual incidence rates were described as average annual percent change (AAPC). During the study period, 872 new ENKTL diagnoses and 39412 new NPC diagnoses were reported. The annual age-adjusted incidence rate of ENKTL and NPC both decreased significantly, with AAPC of -2.47 (p = 0.014) and -1.16 (p &amp;lt; 0.001), respectively. For NPC, the incidence rate decreased from 1995 to 2021 in the age groups of 20-44, 45-64, and 65+ years from 5.23 per 100,000 persons to 4.42 per 100,000 persons (AAPC of -0.45, p = 0.011), from 15.28 per 100,000 persons to 11.36 per 100,000 persons (AAPC of -1.21, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and from 10.48 per 100,000 persons to 7.24 per 100,000 persons (AAPC of -1.91 (p &amp;lt; 0.001), respectively. A substantial decrease in the age-specific incidence of ENKTL was seen in the 45-64 year age group, from 0.46 per 100,000 persons in 2008 to 0.32 per 100,000 persons in 2021 (AAPC of -3.37; p = 0.008). There was also a suggestive decrease in incidence between 2009 and 2021 in the 20-44 and 65+ age groups from 0.16 per 100,000 people to 0.11 per 100,000 people and from 0.87 per 100,000 people to 0.79 per 100,000 people, respectively. Interestingly, the EBV seroprevalence in Taiwan appears to remain stable from 1984 to 2007, with a seroprevalence of over 90% among persons Nonetheless, there appears to be a downward trend in seroprevalence in early childhood, with prevalence falling by approximately 20% in children aged 4 years and by nearly half in children younger than 2 years of age. This suggests that the downward trend of NPC/ENKTL may be affected by the decline in early EBV infection rates. In conclusion, our population-based data showed a decrease in incidence of NPC/ENKTL in the last 20 years in Taiwan. Given the EBV seroprevalence remained stable but early EBV infection declined during the same period in Taiwan, these findings suggest delayed EBV infection or factors other than EBV might be important in the downward trend of NPC/ENKTL in Taiwan and warrant further investigation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01CA100555

  NIH · $1.0M · 2012

• Using epigenomic subtyping to understand the racial differences in lymphoma

  NIH · $455k · 2017–2021

• A highly sensitive linear amplification based DNA methylation profiling technique for clinical cancer research

  NIH · $1.2M · 2022–2026

• NIH Grant R03CA094770

  NIH · $147k · 2004

• NIH Grant R03CA132153

  NIH · $155k · 2010

Frequent coauthors

• Sílvia de Sanjosé

  Barcelona Institute for Global Health

  115 shared

• James R. Cerhan

  Mayo Clinic in Florida

  108 shared

• Nikolaus Becker

  101 shared

• Yolanda Benavente

  Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

  97 shared

• Sophia Wang

  Sun Yat-sen University

  94 shared

• Lindsay M. Morton

  National Institutes of Health

  94 shared

• Dennis D. Weisenburger

  University of Nebraska Medical Center

  93 shared

• John J. Spinelli

  92 shared

Labs

• Brian Chiu LaboratoryPI

Education

• Ph.D., Epidemiology

  University of California, Los Angeles

  2004

• M.S., Epidemiology

  University of California, Los Angeles

  2001

• B.S., Biology

  University of California, Los Angeles

  1999