Ali Afsari
Biography
Ali Afsari, M.D., is Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgical Pathology and Director of the Immunohistochemistry Laboratory in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, Irvine. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, and completed his pathology residency at Howard University Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident from 2019 to 2021. He subsequently completed fellowships in surgical pathology at George Washington University Hospital and gastrointestinal pathology at the University of California, Irvine.
Afsari's research has focused on health disparities and disease patterns in African American populations, particularly in gastrointestinal and liver pathology, as well as triple negative breast cancer. His work has examined clinical and pathological risk factors associated with liver fibrosis and steatosis in African Americans with chronic hepatitis C, and has investigated the role of sessile serrated polyps in colorectal cancer disparities. He has also contributed to research on molecular markers and genetic amplifications in triple negative breast cancer among African American patients.
Prior to his academic appointments, Afsari worked as a research fellow at Howard University Hospital Cancer Center from 2014 to 2017 and practiced as a general practitioner from 2007 to 2013. At UC Irvine, he serves as Chair of the GI Clinical Competency Committee and is a member of the Program Evaluation Committee faculty subcommittee on Psychological Safety. He is board certified in anatomical and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology.
Return to topDistinctions
- Pathology Chief Resident at Howard University Hospital, 2019-2021
- Certificate of Award for Research, Howard University Hospital, 2015
Areas of Expertise
- Gastrointestinal Pathology
- Hepatitis C Liver Fibrosis
- Colorectal Cancer Disparities
- Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- Tumor Nodule Binary Classification
- Gastric Hyperplastic Polyps
- DDR1 Expression Colorectal Carcinomas
Recent Publications
- Zhang S., Hasan N., Han J., Kroening G., Jutric Z., Afsari A., Attarian S., Valerin J., “A camouflaging mystery: solid-tubulocystic variant of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma” (opens in new tab), Human Pathology Reports, vol. 42, 2025.
- Turkistani S, “A panel of miRNAs as prognostic markers for African-American patients with triple negative breast cancer” (opens in new tab), BMC Cancer, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 861, 2021.
- Yan Y, “CRYβB2 enhances tumorigenesis through upregulation of nucleolin in triple negative breast cancer” (opens in new tab), Oncogene, vol. 40, no. 38, pp. 5752-5763, 2021.
- Sherif ZA, “Factors influencing treatment outcome in hepatitis C virus minority patients at an inner-city hospital: A STROBE-complaint article” (opens in new tab), Medicine United States, vol. 99, 2020.
- Shokrani B., Brim H., Hydari T., Afsari A., Lee E., Nouraie M., Sherif Z., Ashktorab H., “Analysis of β-catenin association with obesity in African Americans with premalignant and malignant colorectal lesions” (opens in new tab), BMC Gastroenterology, vol. 20, 2020.
- Nouraie M, “Can the rate and location of sessile serrated polyps be part of colorectal Cancer disparity in African Americans?” (opens in new tab), BMC Gastroenterology, vol. 19, 2019.
- Shahnazi A, “Obesity and Pancreatic Cysts in African American Patients”, Cureus, 2018.
- Brim H, “Gastrointestinal Lesions in African American Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia” (opens in new tab), Clinical Medicine Insights Gastroenterology, vol. 11, 2018.
- Afsari A, Lee E, Shokrani B, Boortalary T, Sherif ZA, Nouraie M, Laiyemo AO, Alkhalloufi K, Brim H, Ashktorab H, “Clinical and Pathological Risk Factors Associated with Liver Fibrosis and Steatosis in African-Americans with Chronic Hepatitis C” (opens in new tab), Digestive Diseases and Sciences, vol. 62, no. 8, pp. 2159-2165, 2017.
- Shahnazi A, Sanderson AK, Laiyemo AO, Nouraie M, Haidary T, Brim H, Geramfard S, Afsari A, Ashktorab H, “Diabetes Mellitus and Pancreatic Cysts in African Americans” (opens in new tab), Pancreas, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. e14-5, 2016.
Contact Information
Email: afsaria@uci.edu
Phone: (714) 456-6141
Address: 101 The City Dr. S. Bl. 1, Rm. 3003, Irvine, CA 92697-4805
Return to topThis profile was created with the help of AI.
Last updated on 2/17/2026.