Biographical summary
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.
Conditions treated
Interests
- 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.
Mayo Clinic locations
Education
- 2020
Post Doctoral Fellowship - Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory (TNRL), Dr. Edward B. Lee labSchool of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
- 2018
Fellowship - Neuropathology FellowshipHospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- 2016
Resident - Anatomic Pathology ResidencyHospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- 2014
MDJefferson Medical College
- 2013
Research Fellowship - Medical Research Scholars Program FellowshipNational Institutes of Health
- 2009
BS - Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics (Honors Degree with Distinction)University of Delaware
Activities and honors
Certifications
- 2018
NeuropathologyAmerican Board of Pathology
- 2018
Anatomic PathologyAmerican Board of Pathology
Awards and honors
- 2021
Diagnostic Slide Session Award for the Best Neurodegenerative CaseAmerican Association of Neuropathology
- 2020
Neurodegenerative Disease Scholars Program AwardAmerican Association of Neuropathology
- 2020
Robert Terry Award, Honorable mention American Association of Neuropathology
- 2018
Diagnostic Slide Session Award for Best Neurodegenerative CaseAmerican Association of Neuropathology
- 2015
Penn Cares Grant, "Woodland Writers" ProjectUniversity of Pennsylvania
- 2014
The Harold L. Stewart, M.D.,’26 Prize in Pathology Jefferson Medical College
- 2009
Imperial College of London-University of Delaware Research Travel AwardUniversity of Delaware and Imperial College of London
- 2008
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Summer ScholarshipHoward Hughes Medical Institute, University of Delaware
- 2007
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Summer ScholarshipHoward Hughes Medical Institute, University of Delaware
- 2005
Gold Key Scholastic Award - Alliance for Young Artists and WritersGold Key Honor Society
Professional memberships
- 2024 - present
Education CommitteeAmerican Association of Neuropathologists
- 2021 - present
MemberAlzheimer's Association
- 2021 - present
MemberInternational Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment, Alzheimer's Association
- 2020 - present
MemberNew York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)
- 2020 - present
MemberUnited States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
- 2016 - present
MemberAmerican Association of Neuropathologists
- 2014 - 2020
Trainee MemberUnited States and Canadian Academy of Pathology
- 2014 - present
MemberCollege of American Pathologists
- 2007 - 2009
PresidentVietnamese Student Association, University of Delaware
- 2005 - 2009
PresidentVietnamese Student Association (VSA)
Publications