Dr. Chiu investigates the causes and outcomes of lymphoma and multiple myeloma in racial/ethnic and geographically diverse populations using integrated modern molecular techniques and epidemiologic approaches. His current main focus areas are: (1) developing novel epigenetics-based biomarkers in circulating cell-free DNA for prognostication and management of cancers, especially multiple myeloma, (2) identifying lifestyle, biological, and treatment factors that influence the survival and outcomes of multiple myeloma patients, and (3) studying lifestyles, environmental exposures, genetics, and epigenetics that are associated with risks of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. He is also an active researcher in large international consortia, including the International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph), International Multiple Myeloma Consortium (now InterLymph-Myeloma Working Group), and the NCI AsiaLymph. Dr. Chiu’s ongoing NIH-funded and other major research projects include:
• Epidemiology of Multiple Myeloma Outcomes at UChicago (EMMOC): Dr. Chiu and his colleagues are enrolling patients with multiple myeloma at the UChicago Medical Center to characterize serial epigenetic signatures in circulating cell-free DNA and evaluate integration with quantitative image-based markers for minimally-invasive assessment of response to myeloma treatment.
• Study at UChicago for Cancer Epigenetic EpiDemiology (SUCCEED): Dr. Chiu and his team use a sensitive single-base epigenetic profiling technology to characterize epigenetic modifications in cancers for liquid biopsy-based biomarker discovery in cancer detection and monitoring.
• UChicago Myeloma Epidemiology Study: In this clinic-based cohort study at the University of Chicago, Dr. Chiu and his team investigate lifestyle, diet, cytogenetics, genetics, and epigenetic modifications, particularly 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, implicated in the racial/ethnic disparities in the development and outcomes of multiple myeloma.
• International Lymphoma Epidemiology Consortium (InterLymph) and AsiaLymph: Dr. Chiu is collaborating with a large group of multi-institute international investigators to investigate the role of environmental exposures and genetic factors in the development of lymphoid malignancies. One of the ongoing major multi-institute initiatives is the InterLymph Genome-Wide Association Study of Lymphoid Malignancies and Related Disorders. Dr. Chiu was also the principal investigator of Taiwan Center for the NCI AsiaLymph study to investigate the contribution of environmental, occupational, and genetic factors to lymphoma risk in Eastern Asia.
Population differences in the associations between chromosomal abnormalities and overall survival of multiple myeloma.
Population differences in the associations between chromosomal abnormalities and overall survival of multiple myeloma. Blood Neoplasia. 2025 Feb; 2(1):100065.
PMID: 40454405
Comparison of patients with myeloma receiving zoledronic acid vs denosumab: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.
Comparison of patients with myeloma receiving zoledronic acid vs denosumab: a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Blood Adv. 2024 Nov 12; 8(21):5539-5541.
PMID: 39207867
A proteome-wide analysis unveils a core Epstein-Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations.
A proteome-wide analysis unveils a core Epstein-Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations. Int J Cancer. 2024 Oct 15; 155(8):1476-1486.
PMID: 38995124
LABS: linear amplification-based bisulfite sequencing for ultrasensitive cancer detection from cell-free DNA.
LABS: linear amplification-based bisulfite sequencing for ultrasensitive cancer detection from cell-free DNA. Genome Biol. 2024 06 14; 25(1):157.
PMID: 38877540
Correction: Distinct germline genetic susceptibility profiles identified for common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.
Correction: Distinct germline genetic susceptibility profiles identified for common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. Leukemia. 2023 Oct; 37(10):2142.
PMID: 37666943
PETCH-DB: a Portal for Exploring Tissue-specific and Complex disease-associated 5-Hydroxymethylcytosines.
PETCH-DB: a Portal for Exploring Tissue-specific and Complex disease-associated 5-Hydroxymethylcytosines. Database (Oxford). 2023 06 10; 2023.
PMID: 37387524
PETCH-DB: a Portal for Exploring Tissue-specific and Complex disease-associated 5-Hydroxymethylcytosines.
PETCH-DB: a Portal for Exploring Tissue-specific and Complex disease-associated 5-Hydroxymethylcytosines. Database (Oxford). 2023 06 10; 2023.
PMID: 37387525
Geospatial analysis of population-based incidence of multiple myeloma in the United States.
Geospatial analysis of population-based incidence of multiple myeloma in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol. 2023 04; 83:102343.
PMID: 36841019
Body Mass Index and Overall Survival of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma.
Body Mass Index and Overall Survival of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct 29; 14(21).
PMID: 36358748
Distinct germline genetic susceptibility profiles identified for common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.
Distinct germline genetic susceptibility profiles identified for common non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes. Leukemia. 2022 12; 36(12):2835-2844.
PMID: 36273105