Rafeul Alam, MD, PhD

Dr. Rafeul Alam is a fellowship-trained allergist & immunologist. He treats allergies, asthma & immune disorders. He also serves as chair of the A/I Division.

Chief, Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology
Professor
Veda H. and Chauncey H. Ritter Chair in Immunology
Department of Medicine
Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology
2025 Top Doctor – 5280 Magazine & Castle Connolly

Special Interests

Basic Science Research: The major research interest of the laboratory are 1) Mechanism of formation of ILC2 memory for allergen-associated PAMPs; 2) DNA sensor-driven airway neutrophilic inflammation.
Translational/Clinical Research: The major interest is to identify key cells, pathways and molecules involved in type-2 (eosinophilic) and non-type-2 (neutrophilic) endotypes of asthma.

Education

1974 - 1980: Lodz Medical School (Lodz, Poland), MD

Residency

1981 - 1983: Lodz Medical School (Lodz, Poland), Internal Medicine

Fellowship

1987 - 1988: University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Allergy-Immunology

Awards & Recognition

2024 July, HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, member
2021 November, HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, Chair
2021 June: HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, NIH, Ad Hoc member
2020 October: HAMI ZRG1 IMM-T57 Study Section, NIH, Chair
2016-2020: HAI Study Section, NIH, Standing Member
2015: Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award, 2015, National Jewish Health, Denver
2014-2021: Best Doctors in America (Best Doctors, Inc), Top Doctors (US News and World Report)
2012: Election to Association of American Physicians (AAP)
1997: Election to American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
2000: Sealy & Smith Distinguished Centennial Chair in Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch
1993: Pharmacia Allergy Research Foundation Award (an International Contest)
1989: Burroughs Welcome Developing Investigator Award
1987: Clemens von Pirquet Award of the American College of Allergists
1985: Annual Award of the Polish Society of Allergists for the best Ph.D. dissertation
1980: Copernicus Gold Prize of the Polish Ministry of Sciences and Higher Education
1980: M.D. Valedictorian, Class of 1980, Lodz Medical University
1980: Ranked First in All-Poland Medical Graduate Final Examination

Board Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Allergy and Immunology

Professional Memberships

2012-Present: Association of American Physicians
1997-Present: American Society for Clinical Investigation
1993-Present: Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
1992-Present: American College of Physicians
1989-Present: American Thoracic Society
1989-Present: American Association of Immunologists
1988-Present: American Academy of Allergy and Immunology
1986-Present: American College of Allergists

Publications

Liu S, Sirohi K, Verma M, McKay J, Michalec L, Sripada A, Danhorn T, Rollins D, Good J, Gorska MM, Martin RJ, Alam R. Optimal identification of human conventional and nonconventional (CRTH2-IL7Rα-) ILC2s using additional surface markers. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2020 Aug;146(2):390-405. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.01.038. Epub 2020 Feb 4. PMID: 32032632; PMCID: PMC7398840.

Verma M, Michalec L, Sripada A, McKay J, Sirohi K, Verma D, Sheth D, Martin R, Dyjack N, Seibold MA, Knapp JR, Tu TH, O'Connor BP, Gorska MM, Alam R. The molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) memory and its relevance for asthma. J Exp Med. 2021 Jul 5;218(7):e20201354. doi: 10.1084/jem.20201354. Epub 2021 Jun 2. PMID: 34076685; PMCID: PMC8176441.

Sripada A, Verma D, Varma R, Sirohi K, Kwiat C, Pathria M, Verma M, Sahu A, Guntur V, Manka L, Vestal B, Moore C, Martin RJ, Gorska MM, Cambier J, Getahun A, Alam R. Allergens abrogate antiinflammatory DNA effects and unmask macrophage-driven neutrophilic asthma via ILC2/STING/TNF-α signaling. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jun 17;135(16):e187907. doi: 10.1172/JCI187907. PMID: 40526428; PMCID: PMC12352889.

Sirohi K, Sripada A, Verma M, Varma R, Liu S, Yadav S, Sahu A, Manka L, Guntur VP, Gorska MM, Alam R. CBX7 functions as a methylation-dependent inducer of gene transcription and regulator of cytosolic signaling in lymphoid cells. Sci Adv. 2026 Feb 13;12(7):eadj4926. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4926. Epub 2026 Feb 13. PMID: 41686891; PMCID: PMC12904207.

Academic Affiliations

Faculty Affiliate, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Website Information

Alam Laboratory

Ask a Question

Contact Information

Office: 877.225.5654

Locations

National Jewish Health Main Campus
1400 Jackson Street
Denver, CO 80206

Patient Ratings

Data Integrity Press Ganey Certified The Patient metric-rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our independent metric-rating system, the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. This survey is about the patient care experience and does not address crucial characteristics like medical decision-making, prescribing the best therapy, and patient outcomes.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Learn more about our patient satisfaction survey.

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.8

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.7

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.7

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.7

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.8

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.8

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.8

ALAM: RAFEUL

4.9

Patient Comments

Comments are collected in our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Surveys. Patients are de-identified to protect confidentiality and patient privacy. Learn more about our patient satisfaction survey.

National Jewish Health Patient – December, 2025

I have always received excellent care from Dr Alam. He listens, he probes and he provides solutions for whatever I need help with.
National Jewish Health Patient – October, 2025

Dr alam is amazing and helpful and always has me flagged to follow any issues and will reach out personally to follow up even if I see a different provider
National Jewish Health Patient – October, 2025

I appreciate the doctor's candid and thorough conversation!
National Jewish Health Patient – October, 2025

We greatly appreciate Dr. Alam for his vast knowledge, patience listening, kindness and respect. We are extremely grateful for the time spent and for future treatment plans. We have seen many physicians and we consider Dr. Alam one of the best!
National Jewish Health Patient – October, 2025

Dr Alam was very attentive and listened to my concerns. I liked his suggestions about meditation and explained in detail why modification should be done
National Jewish Health Patient – October, 2025

The amount of time spent and the commitment, Dr. Alam showed to me in our ongoing professional relationship Is truly exemplary in this day of modern medicine, and insurance company and other demands on the profession. Remarkable.
National Jewish Health Patient – August, 2025

Dr. Alam is the best. He's not only knowledgeable and effective, he's also kind and compassionate.
National Jewish Health Patient – August, 2025

Communication styles vary around the globe, Good discussions on any topic, Especially health related discussions. The more patients and physicians make an effort to respect where each has come from and appeal to where each is currently at, the better any/all medical visits become. My physicians and I ALWAYS have great discussions. Due to this, Im confident in their personal attentive care, whatever amount of time they're able to devote. We understand one another and respectfully support one another as a result
National Jewish Health Patient – August, 2025

Dr Alam is an extremely knowledgeable, pleasant, and caring physician. He always listens to my concerns and provides easy to understand responses. I have been going to him for several years and he is always the same every time I see him. I have complete confidence and respect for him and his input!
National Jewish Health Patient – June, 2025

Dr. Alam was so helpful and informative. I learned so much from him about my asthma and to help better control it.
National Jewish Health Patient – June, 2025

Dr Alam and his intern were both so nice to me. I didn't feel rushed. They answered all my questions and their expertise is clear so I feel confident and reassured to have them helping me. I came to National Jewish for a second opinion because I had so little confidence in the immunologist I had in Broomfield - I'm so grateful that I did it and feel lucky to have this quality of care right here in Denver.
National Jewish Health Patient – April, 2025

Dr. Alam treated me as if I was illiterate and didn't know to take care of myself because of an illness I can't control. He was very unprofessional and I will not be under his care if he continues to treat his patients like they do not matter.
National Jewish Health Patient – March, 2025

Excellent as always
National Jewish Health Patient – February, 2025

I place implicit trust in Dr. Alam!
National Jewish Health Patient – February, 2025

Dr. Alam is a highly intelligent and compassionate person who understands that the patient has a significant role in their health. He empowers you to make healthy decisions to manage your health issue.
National Jewish Health Patient – January, 2025

Dr. Alam is wonderful . Smart, knowledgeable and caring
National Jewish Health Patient – January, 2025

Dr. Alam is really a good doctor. He politely Interacts with the patient to get their stories and facts and listens carefully. He tries to find the facts and not the patient's assortations.. He explains the need for a particular medications and when to take it.

Patient Ratings

Programs and Services

Specialties & Conditions

Research Areas

Special Interests

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Education

Education

Residency

Fellowship

Awards & Recognition

Board Certification

Professional Memberships

Publications

Academic Affiliations

Website Information