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Amar Nijagal, M.D.

Amar Nijagal, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division of Pediatric Surgery
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco

Contact Information

Box 0570
550 16th Street
San Francisco, CA 94158
amar.nijagal@ucsf.edu

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Education

1996-2000, Duke University, B.A. Philosophy

2000-06, University of California, San Francisco, M.D.

Residencies

  • 2006-07, University of California, San Francisco, Intern, General Surgery
  • 2007-13, University of California, San Francisco, Resident, General Surgery
  • 2013-14, University of California, San Francisco, Chief Resident, General Surgery

Fellowships

  • California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Clinical Fellow (2009-2012)
  • 2014-16, Boston Children's Hospital, Fellow, Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Surgery, General Surgery

Program Affiliations

Clinical Expertise

  • Hepatobiliary surgery Neonatal surgery Minimally invasive surgery Pediatric Surgery

Research Interests

  • Immunology at the maternal-fetal interface

Website Links

Biography

Amar Nijagal, M.D. is a pediatric surgeon in the UCSF Division of Pediatric Surgery. He completed his undergraduate degree at Duke University and obtained his MD from the University of CA, San Francisco School of Medicine (UCSF).

During his general surgery residency at UCSF, he spent three years researching immune responses to in utero stem cell transplantation. He completed his pediatric general and thoracic surgery fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital.

Awards & Honors

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  • Franklin H. Martin, MD, FACS Faculty Research Fellowship, American College of Surgeons, 2019-2021
  • APSA Foundation Jay Grosfeld, MD Scholar Research Award, American Pediatric Surgical Association, 2018-2019
  • Esther Nusz Achievement Award, UCSF Department of Surgery, 2014
  • Medical Student Teaching Award, UCSF Department of Surgery, 2014
  • Medical Student Teaching Award, UCSF Department of Surgery, 2013
  • M. Judah Folkman Memorial Award-Best Podium Presentation, American Pediatric Surgical Association, 2012
  • M. Judah Folkman Memorial Award-Best Podium Presentation, American Pediatric Surgical Association, 2011
  • Camille Vandenberge-Storz Young Investigators' Award, International Fetal and Maternal Surgical Society, 2011
  • Clinical Fellow Research Training Award, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 2009-2012
  • Resident Research Award, Association of Academic Surgeons, 2009
  • Alpha Omega Alpha, UCSF School of Medicine, 2005
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Research Overview

Investigating How Immune Cells Regulate the Development and Repair of Fetal Organs

We study how immune cells may regulate the development and repair of fetal organs.  Our research is currently focused on the development of the liver and bile ducts as the fetal liver is ripe with interactions between developing hepatocytes/cholangiocytes and the hematopoietic system.  We are interested in identifying key relationships and interactions between immune cells and developing tissues in both the steady state and during fetal injury.  Using advanced surgical techniques in mouse models, we are able to manipulate and induce injury in fetal organs.  We have also employed "discovery" approaches to identify novel cell types and pathways that may serve as a link between the immune system and fetal development. 

More at Nijagal Lab

Research Pathways

Research Activities & Funding

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  • The cooperative relationship between neutrophils and monocytes during neonatal liver inflammation: insight into the pathogenesis of biliary atresia
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    Jul 2019
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    Jun 2021
  • Single cell characterization and organoid development of pediatric choledochal cysts and hepatoblastoma to understand the link between liver development and hepatobiliary malignancy
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    Feb 2020
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    Jan 2021
  • The Role of Monocytes During the Resolution of Perinatal Liver Inflammation
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    Jun 2019
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    May 2020
  • Investigating the Fetal Mechanisms of Liver and Bile Duct Repair: A Link to the Prenatal Origins of Biliary Atresia
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    Jul 2018
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    Jun 2019
    PI

Publications

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 30
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  1. Alkhani A, Levy CS, Tsui M, Rosenberg KA, Polovina K, Mattis AN, Mack M, Van Dyken S, Wang BM, Maher JJ, Nijagal A. Ly6cLo non-classical monocytes promote resolution of rhesus rotavirus-mediated perinatal hepatic inflammation. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 28; 10(1):7165. View in PubMed
  2. Ramirez JL, Kuhrau CR, Wu B, Zarkowsky DS, Conte MS, Oskowitz AZ, Nijagal A, Vartanian SM. Natural history of acute pediatric iliofemoral artery thrombosis treated with anticoagulation. J Vasc Surg. 2020 Apr 08. View in PubMed
  3. Schwab ME, Song H, Mattis A, Phelps A, Vu LT, Huang FW, Nijagal A. De novo somatic mutations and KRAS amplification are associated with cholangiocarcinoma in a patient with a history of choledochal cyst. J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Mar 24. View in PubMed
  4. Subbaraj L, Beleniski F, Courtier J, Vartanian S, Nijagal A. Congenital superior mesenteric artery aneurysm in a 6-week-old infant presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. J Vasc Surg. 2020 Apr; 71(4):1391-1394. View in PubMed
  5. Nijagal A, Perito ER. Treating Biliary Atresia: The Challenge Continues. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 04; 68(4):464-465. View in PubMed
  6. View All Publications

Abstracts

  1. A Nijagal, M Wegorzewska, T Le, TC MacKenzie. Fetal intervention triggers the activation of paternal antigen-specific maternal T cells. American Pediatric Surgical Association 43rd Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, May 2011. accepted.
  2. A Nijagal, S Fleck, NK Hills, S Feng, Q Tang, SM Kang, P Rosenthal, TC MacKenzie. Maternal liver transplantation in patients with biliary atresia leads to lower risk of graft failure. American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference, Boston, MA. 2011.
  3. A Nijagal, T Le, M Wegorzewska, A Tucker, TC MacKenzie. Peripheral tolerance mechanisms are important for the maintenance of donor cell engraftment after in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation. American College of Surgeons 97th Annual Clinical Congress, San Francisco, CA. 2011.
  4. A Nijagal, M Wegorzewska, T Le, J Gonzalez, TC MacKenzie. The maternal adaptive immune response against paternal antigens incites fetal demise after detal intervention. American Pediatric Surgical Association 42nd Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA, May 2011.
  5. G Bautista, KD Gonzales, A Nijagal, C Ward, DN Miniati, H Lee, S Keating, P Norris, TH Lee, M Busch, TC MacKenzie. Maternal-fetal cellular signaling mechanisms in severe congenital giaphragmatic hernia. American Pediatric Surgical Association 42nd Annual Meeting, Palm Springs, CA, May 2011.
  6. A Nijagal, T Le, M Wegorzewska, A Tucker, Q Tang, TC MacKenzie. Regulatory T cells establish and maintain chimerism after in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation, IMMUNOLOGY 2011. 98th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, San Francisco, CA 2011.
  7. A Nijagal, M Wegorzewska, T Le, A Tucker, Q Tang, TC MacKenzie. Altered T cell profiles in uterine draining lymph nodes of mice with preterm labor, IMMUNOLOGY 2011. 98th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, San Francisco, CA 2011.
  8. M Wegorzewska, A Nijagal, T Le, A Tucker, Q Tang, TC MacKenzie. Preterm labor leads to activation and proliferation of maternal T cells which recognize the paternal alloantigen via the indirect pathway, IMMUNOLOGY 2011. 98th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, San Francisco, CA 2011.
  9. A Nijagal, S Fleck, SM Kang, P Rosenthal, TC MacKenzie. Improved outcomes of living related liver transplantation with maternal donors in patients with biliary atresia, American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA 2010.
  10. TC MacKenzie, A Nijagal, T Le, M Wegorzewska, Q Tang. Indirect antigen presentation following in utero HSC transplantation leads to clonal deletion of antigen specific T effector cells with formation of Tregs. International Society for Stem Cell Research 8th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. June 2010.
  11. L Landsman, A Nijagal, WE Zimmer, T MacKenzie, M Hebrok. Transgenic studies reveal essential roles for embryonic pancreatic mesenchyme. Cold Spring Harbor Vertebrate Organogenesis, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. April 2010.
  12. A Nijagal, M Wegorzewska, E Jarvis, T Le, Q Tang, and T MacKenzie. The maternal immune response limits engraftment after in utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine 2010 Grantee Meeting. San Francisco, CA. March 2010.
  13. T MacKenzie, E Jarvis, A Nijagal, T Le, M Wegorzewska, and Q Tang. The maternal immune response to in utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The American Society of Hematology, New Orleans, LA. . December 2009.
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In the News

  • Amar Nijagal, MD Awarded American Cancer Society Individual Research Grant

    UCSF Nijagal Lab - Richard Barg - July 01, 2020
    Pediatric surgeon-scientist Amar Nijagal, M.D. has been awarded an American Cancer Society Individual Research Grant to study the crucial link between liver and bile duct development, and hepatobiliary cancers. The study is entitled: "Single cell characterization and organoid development of pediatric choledochal cysts and hepatoblastoma to understand the link between liver development and hepatobiliary malignancy."  Project Summary Developmental abnormalities of the liver and bile ducts can [...]

  • Amar Nijagal, MD Recipient of UCSF Liver Center Pilot/Feasibility Award

    UCSF Nijagal Lab - Richard Barg - May 14, 2019
    Amar Nijagal, M.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, was awarded a Pilot/Feasibility Award from the UCSF Liver Center, of which he is now an associate member. An external advisory board comprised of leading liver scientists evaluated applications for this award. Dr. Nijagal's research proposal, "The Role of Monocytes on The Resolution of Perinatal Hepatic Inflammation", was among three chosen for this highly competitive award. Dr. Nijagal's laboratory focuses on perinatal [...]

  • Amar Nijagal, MD Awarded Franklin H. Martin, MD, FACS Faculty Research Fellowship from American College of Surgeons

    UCSF Nijagal Lab - Richard Barg - March 18, 2019
    Pediatric surgeon-scientist Amar Nijagal, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, has been awarded the 29th Franklin H. Martin, MD, FACS Faculty Research Fellowship from the American College of Surgeons. His research will study the role of neutrophils and monocytes during the initiation and resolution of neonatal liver inflammation.   Dr. Nijagal's laboratory is focused on the immune regulation of liver development and perinatal liver inflammation.  Using an infectious [...]

  • Pediatric Surgeon Amar Nijagal Receives Jay Grosfeld MD Scholar Award from APSAF

    UCSF Pediatric Surgery - Richard Barg - May 14, 2018
    Amar Nijagal, M.D., assistant professor of Surgery in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, received the Jay Grosfeld MD Scholar Award from the American Pediatric Surgical Association Foundation (APSAF) at the 2018 APSA annual meeting. Dr. Nijagal was one of two junior faculty honored with the highly competitive award for his grant proposal, "Investigating the fetal mechanisms of liver and bile duct repair: a link to the prenatal origins of biliary atresia". The Department of Surgery is also [...]

  • Mother’s Stem Cells Likely Key To Treating Genetic Disease Before Birth

    UCSF Pediatric Surgery - January 18, 2011
    UCSF News reports on fetal stem cell transplantation, taking healthy cells from the bone marrow of a donor, and transplanting them into the fetus through ultrasound-guided injections with the goal of having the implanted cells, or graft, replenish the patient's supply of healthy blood-forming cells. UCSF researchers have tackled a decade-long scientific conundrum, and their discovery is expected to lead to significant advances in using stem cells to treat genetic diseases before birth. [...]

 

 
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