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Aivi T. Nguyen, M.D.

  1. Pathologist
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Departments

Specialty Groups

Location

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

Languages

English

Existing patients

Aivi Nguyen, M.D., is a practicing board-certified neuropathologist and translational neuropathology researcher, with special focus in neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Nguyen is an actively contributing neuropathologist to Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) and Mayo Clinic Study of Aging (MCSA), both of which involve the study and characterization of aging individuals over time by integrating multidisciplinary efforts, including neuroimaging, CSF biomarkers, and neuropathology. Dr. Nguyen is also involved in multiinstitutional collaborative research efforts. Her primary research interest includes the role of neuroinflammation, specifically microglia, in normal aging and neurodegeneration.

  1. Neurodegeneration
  • Microglia Heterogeneity in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). During her post-doctoral training, Dr. Nguyen helped characterize the heterogeneous microglial response in human AD brain tissue using single-nuclei RNA sequencing paired with immunohistochemical validation in an autopsy cohort. This continues to be an active area of research, as Dr. Nguyen seeks to understand the interplay between these distinct microglial subpopulations and activation states during differing stages of AD.
  • Genetics and Microglia. Dr. Nguyen is keenly interested in how AD genetic risk variants, e.g., APOE E4 and TREM2 R47H, amongst others, influence the microglial response to proteinopathy in the human brain. Dr. Nguyen and colleagues are actively working to identify how genetic risk dictates the varying microglial activation states in AD.
  • Cognition and Microglia. The rate of cognitive decline may not correlate with levels of pathology, as determined by combined neuropsychiatry data and in vivo neuroimaging studies. Dr. Nguyen and colleagues are employing a multidisciplinary approach integrating neuroimaging, neuropsychiatry, and neuropathology to understand whether microglia plays a role in cognitive resilience.
  1. 2020
    Post Doctoral Fellowship - Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory (TNRL), Dr. Edward B. Lee labSchool of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
  2. 2018
    Fellowship - Neuropathology FellowshipHospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  3. 2016
    Resident - Anatomic Pathology ResidencyHospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  4. 2014
    MDJefferson Medical College
  5. 2013
    Research Fellowship - Medical Research Scholars Program FellowshipNational Institutes of Health
  6. 2009
    BS - Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics (Honors Degree with Distinction)University of Delaware

Certifications

  1. 2018
    Anatomic PathologyAmerican Board of Pathology
  2. 2018
    NeuropathologyAmerican Board of Pathology

Awards and honors

  1. 2021
    Diagnostic Slide Session Award for the Best Neurodegenerative CaseAmerican Association of Neuropathology
  2. 2020
    Neurodegenerative Disease Scholars Program AwardAmerican Association of Neuropathology
  3. 2020
    Robert Terry Award, Honorable mention American Association of Neuropathology
  4. 2018
    Diagnostic Slide Session Award for Best Neurodegenerative CaseAmerican Association of Neuropathology
  5. 2015
    Penn Cares Grant, "Woodland Writers" ProjectUniversity of Pennsylvania
  6. 2014
    The Harold L. Stewart, M.D.,’26 Prize in Pathology Jefferson Medical College
  7. 2009
    Imperial College of London-University of Delaware Research Travel AwardUniversity of Delaware and Imperial College of London
  8. 2008
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Summer ScholarshipHoward Hughes Medical Institute, University of Delaware
  9. 2007
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Summer ScholarshipHoward Hughes Medical Institute, University of Delaware
  10. 2005
    Gold Key Scholastic Award - Alliance for Young Artists and WritersGold Key Honor Society

Professional memberships

  1. 2020
    Junior MemberAmerican Association of Neuropathology
  2. 2020 - present
    MemberNew York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)
  3. 2016
    Trainee MemberUnited States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
  4. 2014
    MemberCollege of American Pathologists
  5. 2007 - 2009
    PresidentVietnamese Student Association, University of Delaware
  6. 2005 - 2009
    PresidentVietnamese Student Association (VSA)

Publications