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Related Research Units

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Research

Research Overview

Dr. Du's research focuses on improving the diagnosis, management, and long-term outcomes of children with celiac disease. Her work examines the natural history of celiac disease, the nutritional quality and safety of the gluten-free diet, and the impact of diet on growth, body composition, and overall health. She also studies environmental exposures in pediatric nutrition, including contaminants in gluten-free foods and infant formula, and their potential effects on child health. 

In addition, she develops innovative educational approaches, including artificial intelligence–enhanced learning tools, to improve provider education. Her research aims to generate evidence that directly informs clinical care and improves the lives of children and families affected by gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders.

Research Background

Dr. Nan Du is a pediatric gastroenterologist at Boston Children's Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She received her medical degree from Brown University, completed pediatric residency training at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, and completed fellowship training in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Boston Children's Hospital. She also earned a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

Dr. Du specializes in the care of children with celiac disease and other gastrointestinal disorders. Her research focuses on the natural history of celiac disease, the nutritional quality and safety of the gluten-free diet, body composition, environmental exposures, infant nutrition, and innovative approaches to medical education.

Publications

  1. The 2025-2030 dietary guidelines for Americans: a pediatric review of recommendations for children under 5 years. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 May; 123(5):101295. View Abstract
  2. Return to baseline arsenic concentrations after 1 year on gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease: A prospective cohort study. JPGN Rep. 2026 May; 7(2):315-322. View Abstract
  3. Autoantibody signatures in children with celiac disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and polyautoimmunity. JPGN Rep. 2026 Feb; 7(1):118-126. View Abstract
  4. New international infant formulas in the United States: Understanding the Food and Drug Administration-enforcement discretion. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Jul; 81(1):5-10. View Abstract
  5. Heavy metal exposures in aerodigestive clinic cohort of infants with reflux or dysphagia. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 23; 15(1):14068. View Abstract
  6. Identifying parentally perceived barriers for children with celiac disease to participate in elementary school meal programs. JPGN Rep. 2024 Nov; 5(4):470-474. View Abstract
  7. Effect of Adopting a Gluten-Free Diet on Exposure to Arsenic and Other Heavy Metals in Children With Celiac Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2025 Apr 01; 120(4):883-889. View Abstract
  8. Adapting celiac immunity for the future: Addressing the immunization gap in children with celiac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Aug; 79(2):195-197. View Abstract
  9. Enhancing the health knowledge and health literacy of recently resettled refugees through classroom-based instructional methods. Health Educ Res. 2024 03 20; 39(2):159-169. View Abstract
  10. Nutrition Content of Young Child Formulas. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2023 04 01; 76(4):512-516. View Abstract
  11. Sociodemographic Differences of Hospitalization and Associations of Resource Utilization for Failure to Thrive. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2023 03 01; 76(3):385-389. View Abstract
  12. How Good is Good Enough?: Current-Day Pediatric Residency Program Directors' Challenges in Assessing and Achieving Resident Procedural Competency. Acad Pediatr. 2023 03; 23(2):473-482. View Abstract
  13. Nutritional and Safety Concerns of Infant Feeding Trends. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2022 05 01; 74(5):668-673. View Abstract
  14. Survey-Based Study on Food Insecurity During COVID-19 for Households With Children on a Prescribed Gluten-Free Diet. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 06 01; 117(6):931-934. View Abstract
  15. Pediatric Web-based Video Capsule Endoscopy Curriculum: A Pilot Study to Determine the Ability to Implement a Standardized Educational Curriculum. JPGN Rep. 2022 Feb; 3(1):e130. View Abstract
  16. Cytomegalovirus Colitis in An Immunocompetent Patient. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2021 08 01; 73(2):e47. View Abstract
  17. Disparities in Telehealth Utilization Within Pediatric Gastroenterology: One Academic Center's Experience. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2021 08 01; 73(2):217-222. View Abstract
  18. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr Reports. Assessment of Community Pediatric Providers’ Approach to Children with Helicobacter pylori. 2021; 2(1). View Abstract
  19. Procedural Competency for Pediatric Residents in the Contemporary Training Environment: An Unachievable Goal?. MedEdPublish. 2021. View Abstract
  20. Assessment of Community Pediatric Providers' Approach to Children With Helicobacter pylori. JPGN Rep. 2021 Feb; 2(1):e033. View Abstract
  21. Teaching the Yale Health Education and Literacy for Asylees and Refugees: An Innovative Educational Initiative About Refugee Health for Medical Trainees. Acad Pediatr. 2021 03; 21(2):384-386. View Abstract
  22. Non-FDA-Reviewed Imported European Formula Use Among Parents in Urban Pediatric Private Practice. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2020 06; 59(6):566-572. View Abstract
  23. Comparison of Imported European and US Infant Formulas: Labeling, Nutrient and Safety Concerns. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 10; 69(4):480-486. View Abstract
  24. Adverse Events Following Vaccination With Bivalent rLP2086 (Trumenba®): An Observational, Longitudinal Study During a College Outbreak and a Systematic Review. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018 Jan; 37(1):e13-e19. View Abstract
  25. Maternal Mental Health and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge Readiness in Mothers of Preterm Infants. J Pediatr. 2017 05; 184:68-74. View Abstract
  26. The effect of obesity on intraoperative complication rates with hysteroscopic compared to laparoscopic sterilization: a retrospective cohort study. Contracept Reprod Med. 2016; 1:1. View Abstract
  27. Statistical platform to discern spatial and temporal coordination of endothelial sprouting. Integr Biol (Camb). 2012 Mar; 4(3):292-300. View Abstract
  28. Mimicking nature by codelivery of stimulant and inhibitor to create temporally stable and spatially restricted angiogenic zones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Oct 19; 107(42):17933-8. View Abstract

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