Jennifer R. Honda, PhD Ask a Question Refer Patient Jennifer R. Honda, PhD, is a microbiologist and Assistant Professor at National Jewish Health. Dr. Honda is part of the NTM Center for Excellence. She is in the Center of Genes, Environment & Health and Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine. Assistant Professor Center for Genes, Environment & Health Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine 5280 Top Doctors 2022 Previously a 5280 Top Doctor America’s Top Doctors 2015 — Castle Connolly, Medical, Ltd. Recognized in America’s Top Doctors — Castle Connolly, Inc. Best Doctors in America® 2019-2020 — Best Doctors, Inc. Recognized in Best Doctors in America® — Best Doctors, Inc. America’s Top Doctors 2020 — Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. Email Profile Print Profile Overview Contact Info & Locations Programs & Services Center for Genes, Environment and Health Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine NTM Center of Excellence Research Areas Critical host-pathogen interactions in the context of NTM lung disease Environmental, host, and NTM interaction studies in Hawai’i Investigations of the NTM lung disease triad in the context of cystic fibrosis Using clinical isolates from Hawai’i to understand Mycobacterium avium complex virulence Special Interests The overarching mission of the Honda Lab is to understand the biology of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease. NTM lung disease is an emerging public health threat of increasing importance globally. NTM are found in soil and water and not everyone who is exposed develops infection; thus, it is likely a variety of factors drive disease emergence. For unknown reasons, Hawai’i shows the highest numbers of NTM lung disease cases in the United States. Our team is actively studying the 1) environmental- 2) host– 3) microbial factors that contribute to NTM lung disease emergence in Hawai’i and in other Pacific Islands in order to better understand disease emergence in the United States and globally. Additionally, environmental and clinical NTM isolates from Hawai’i are used to explore the intra- and inter- NTM species differences that contribute to pathogenicity and host evasion. The Honda lab is supported by grants from the American Thoracic Society, National Science Foundation, Shoot for the Cure, Natalie V. Zucker Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, NIH NHLBI PRIDE AGOLD Program, University of Colorado, GI and Liver Innate Immune Program (GALIIP), and the Padosi Foundation. See More View Publications Education Education 2004 - 2010 University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Aurora, CO, PhD, Microbiology 1999 - 2002 University of Hawai'i, Manoa; Honolulu, HI, M.S. Microbiology 1993 - 1997 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, B.S. Biology and Zoology Awards & Recognition 2021: ATS Assembly on Pulmonary Infections & Tuberculosis Junior-Level Peer Recognition Award 2020: European Respiratory Society (ERS) Innovation in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Science and Medicine Research Award 2020: NHLBI PRIDE-AGOLD Scholar 2019: ATS Assembly on Pulmonary Infections & Tuberculosis Rising Star Award 2016: ATS Foundation Unrestricted Research Grant 2015: ASM Leaders Inspiring Networks and Knowledge (LINK) Award 2015: Colorado Clinical Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) CO-Pilot Award 2015: American Society for Microbiology Career Development Award for Postdoctoral Women (CDGPW) Keystone Symposia/Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority 2013: Students (ABRCMS) Scholarship 2012, 2013: NRSA T32 NHLBI Postdoctoral Pulmonary Fellowship (5 T32 HL 7085-38) 2011: Tim Gill Endowment for AIDS Research Fellowship 2010: NRSA T32 NIAID Postdoctoral Fellowship, Colorado HIV-1 Research Training Program (T32-AI007447-19) 2008: Minority Trainee Research Forum Graduate Award Recipient 2007: American Society of Biological Sciences Diversity Scholar Award Recipient Professional Memberships American Thoracic Society, American Society for Microbiology Publications Virdi, R, Lowe, M, Norton, GJ, Dawrs, SN, Hasan, NA, Epperson, LE, Glickman, CM, Chan, ED, Strong, M, Crooks, JL and JR Honda. “Lower recovery of nontuberculous mycobacteria from outdoor Hawaii environmental water biofilms compared to indoor samples.” Microorganisms, 2021. NA. Hasan#, GJ. Norton#, R. Virdi, LE. Epperson, CK Vang, B. Hellsbusch, X. Bai, ED. Chan, M. Strong and J.R. Honda. “Measurable genomic changes in Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis after long-term adaptation in Acanthamoeba lenticulata and reduced persistence in macrophages.” Journal of Bacteriology. 2020. PMID: 33431432.Glickman, C.M#., Virdi, R#., Hasan, N.A., Epperson, L.E., Brown, L., Dawrs, S.N., Crooks, J.L., Chan, E.D., Strong, M. and J.R. Honda. “Assessment of soil features on the growth of environmental nontuberculous mycobacterial isolates from Hawai’i.” Applied Environmental Microbiology. 2020. PMID: 32859599. Dawrs, S.N., Kautz, M., Chan, E.D. and J.R. Honda. “Mycobacterium abscessus and gastroesophageal reflex: an in vitro study.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2020. PMID: 32298605. Honda, JR., Hess, T., Fickes, R., Kandasamy, P., Nieto, L.M., Norton, G.J., Virdi, R., Islam, M.N., Mehaffy, C., Hasan, N.A., Epperson, L.E., Hesser, D., Alper, S., Strong, M., Flores, S.C., Voelker, D.R., Dobos, K.M. and E.D. Chan. Nontuberculous mycobacteria show differential infectivity and use phospholipids to antagonize the antibacterial activity of LL-37.” American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. 2019. PMID: 31545652. Honda, J.R., Hasan, N.A., Davidson, R.M., Williams, M.D., Epperson, L.E., Reynolds, P.R., Smith, T., Iakhiaeva, E., Bankowski, M.J., Wallace, R.J., Chan, E.D., Falkinham, J. and M. Strong. “Environmental Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in the Hawaiian Islands.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016. PMID 27780201. Honda, JR., Hess, T., Malcolm, KC., Ovrutsky, AR., Bai, X. Irani, VR. Dobos, K.M., Chan, ED and SC Flores. Pathogenic nontuberculous mycobacteria resist and inactivate cathelicidin: implication of a novel role for polar mycobacterial lipids.” PLOS One, 2015 PMID: 25993058. Academic Affiliations University of Hawai'i, Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology, and Pharmacology Special Faculty, University of Colorado Denver, Department of Integrative Biology Website Information Honda Laboratory Ask a Question through MyChart Sign in to your MyChart account to communicate with your care team, manage appointments, and more. Create an Account Contact Information Office: 303.398.1015 Email: HondaJ@njhealth.org Patient Ratings The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our independent 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. 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