About

Sushila R. Dalal, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at The University of Chicago. Her clinical interests include Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. The biography does not provide specific details about her research focus, background, or key contributions beyond her clinical interests and academic appointment.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Internal medicine
• Surgery
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Selected publications

• Sa1525 PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF EARLY ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN ILEAL POUCH-ANAL ANASTAMOSIS OUTCOMES

  Gastroenterology · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 1231 GAMIFICATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPETITION AS A TOOL FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURAL TRAINING

  Gastrointestinal Endoscopy · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Sa1525 PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF EARLY ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN ILEAL POUCH-ANAL ANASTAMOSIS OUTCOMES

  Gastrointestinal Endoscopy · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 1231 GAMIFICATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPETITION AS A TOOL FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN EMERGENCY PROCEDURAL TRAINING

  Gastroenterology · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Metabolomic Profiling of Fecal Samples Reveals Distinct Signatures Associated with Disease Phenotypes and Locations in Crohn’s Disease

  Digestive Diseases and Sciences · 2026-03-09 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease is a heterogeneous, transmural inflammatory condition that can involve any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Distinct locations (ileal, colonic, ileocolonic) and phenotypes (inflammatory, stricturing, penetrating) display different clinical behaviors and complication risks in CD. Whether these location- and phenotype-specific patterns correspond to unique metabolomic profiles remains incompletely defined. METHODS: To identify metabolites associated with disease activity, location, and phenotype, ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy-based metabolomic analysis was performed on stool samples from patients with CD. Active CD was defined as patients with fecal calprotectin above 100 μg/g. Metabolite differences among groups were assessed using permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Candidate metabolites were identified and validated using multivariable linear models adjusting for demographic covariates, with false discovery rate correction. RESULTS: A total of 302 stool samples from patients with CD were analyzed. Complicated CD phenotypes (B2 and B3) showed increased acylcarnitines and secondary bile acids compared with inflammatory (B1) phenotype. Location-specific analysis indicated increased cholate, and N-acyl ethanolamides in ileal and ileocolonic compared to colonic CD. When stratified by inflammation using fecal calprotectin, patients with active disease displayed upregulation of methylysine, ceramide, sphingomyelin, and polyamines. CONCLUSION: This study reveals metabolomic differences across CD phenotypes and disease activity, providing potential noninvasive biomarkers to help risk-stratify patients for complications and guide tailored management. Further validation in larger cohorts is warranted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• S1763 Real-World Comparison of Every 6-Week and Every 4-Week Ustekinumab Dose Escalation in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

  The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2025-10-01

  article

  Introduction: Several studies have suggested that dose escalation of ustekinumab (UST) from 90 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks (q8) to every 4 weeks (q4) or 6 weeks (q6) is effective for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who do not obtain clinical or biochemical remission, but the decision to escalate to q6 or to q4 week dosing is non-standardized. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients with IBD with UST escalation to q6 and q4. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent UST escalation at our tertiary center between 8/15/2019-4/15/2024. We collected demographics, treatment exposures, steroid use, clinical activity scores, endoscopy findings, biomarkers, and duration of therapy. Treatment success was defined using clinical and objective measures. Statistical comparisons between q6 and q4 week dosing outcomes were performed using Fisher’s Exact Test, Welch’s t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results: 102 patients (71 CD, 29 UC) underwent UST weight based IV loading and maintenance dosing of 90 mg SC q8, but subsequently escalated to q6 (57, 55.9%) or q4 (45, 44.1%). In the q6 group, 52.6% (30/57) remained on therapy for ≥12 months compared to 75.6% (34/45) in the q4 group (P = 0.02). In the q6 group, 17.5% (10/57) transitioned to alternative therapy within 4 months compared to 11.1% (5/45) in the q4 group (P = 0.41). Mean duration of therapy for q6 was significantly shorter than q4 (13.2 vs 20.6 months (P-value = 0.003)). In the q6 group, 49.1% (28/57) achieved steroid free clinical remission (HBI ≤4, SCCAI ≤2, or provider assessment if not documented), vs 71.1% (32/45) in the q4 group (P = 0.03). In the q6 group, 66.7% (12/18) of patients and 76% (19/25) in the q4 group demonstrated mild or no inflammation on post-escalation endoscopic evaluation (P = 0.51). Of patients with elevated CRP pre-escalation, the q6 group had 4/16 patients achieve CRP normalization post-escalation compared to 5/13 patients in the q4 group (P = 0.69). Conclusion: In this real-world cohort of patients with IBD undergoing UST dose interval reduction, escalation to q4 was associated with significantly longer therapy duration and higher rates of steroid-free clinical remission compared to q6. These findings support considering q4 escalation as a preferred strategy for patients requiring UST optimization prior to switching to alternative therapies.

  PublisherDOI

• The Microbiome and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

  Surgical Clinics of North America · 2025-07-28 · 1 citations

  review1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• S1654 Risankizumab Effectiveness and Safety in Ulcerative Colitis: Real-World Data From a Large Tertiary Center

  The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2025-10-01

  article

  Introduction: Risankizumab (RZB) is an interleukin-23p19 inhibitor that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2024 for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). We report the real-world experience with RZB in UC in a large tertiary inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) center. Methods: This is a cohort study in which we prospectively recruited patients with UC at the UChicago IBD Center who were treated with RZB at standard labeled intravenous loading and maintenance dosing. We performed clinical assessments at baseline, weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and 26, using the Simplified Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) and fecal calprotectin (FCP). Clinical remission was defined as SCCAI ≤2 and/or FCP ≤150 µg/g. Steroid-free remission was defined as SCCAI ≤2 in the absence of steroid use. Adverse events were documented. Results were stratified based on prior exposure to ustekinumab (UST). Statistical analyses were performed using R v4.1.3. Results: Forty-nine patients were recruited, with 44 (90.0%) patients previously exposed to advanced therapies and 18 (36.7%) previously exposed to. Baseline median (interquartile range [IQR]) SCCAI and FCP were 3.0 (1.0-5.8) and 476.0 μg/g (105.2-1156.2), respectively. At week 8, median (IQR) SCCAI was 1.0 (0.0-2.0), with 31/41 (75.6%) in clinical remission and 29/41 (70.7%) in steroid-free remission. At week 26, the median (IQR) SCCAI was 1.0 (0.0-1.0), with 22/25 (88.0%) in clinical remission and 20/25 (80.0%) in steroid-free remission. Median (IQR) FCP over the study period (n = 29) was 109 μg/g (60-645), with 16/29 (55.2%) in biomarker remission, and similar in patients exposed to UST (n = 9, 79.9 μg/g [33.0-382.0]) and not exposed (n = 20, 114.5 μg/g [69.8-736.2]). Two (4.1%) patients were hospitalized for severe UC and no patients underwent colectomy. Four (8.2%) patients stopped RZB due to clinically active disease, and one (2.0%) patient stopped therapy due to a diffuse rash. Other adverse events included fatigue (n = 7, 14.3%), headache (n = 1, 2.0%), constipation (n = 1, 2.0%), and low-grade fever with the first infusion (n = 1, 2.0%). Conclusion: We present the largest real-world study of the effectiveness and safety of RZB in patients with UC, including patients previously exposed to UST. In this interim analysis, RZB is an effective and safe therapy for patients with moderately to severely active UC. Longer-term follow-up is ongoing.

  PublisherDOI

• A positive <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> test does not impact outcomes in hospitalized patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis

  Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology · 2025-11-01

  articleOpen access

  Background: infection (CDI) is a significant complication in patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). Objectives: To assess the clinical outcomes of hospitalized ASUC patients with CDI. Design: Retrospective, single-center study. Methods: Medical records of ASUC patients admitted from December 1, 2008, to June 1, 2018, were reviewed. Primary outcomes included hospital duration, in-hospital colectomy rates, and escalation of immunosuppression at discharge. Secondary outcomes included readmission rates and use of salvage therapy. Results: Among 410 ASUC patients, 67 tested positive for CDI. No significant differences in hospital duration, colectomy rates, or readmission rates were found between CDI-positive and CDI-negative groups. CDI-positive patients were less likely to receive intravenous corticosteroids. Conclusion: A positive CDI test in ASUC patients does not correlate with worse clinical outcomes. Based on these results, CDI should be ruled out and treated in hospitalized patients with severe ulcerative colitis without delaying ASUC management.

  PublisherDOI

• Mirikizumab in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: Initial Real-World Data in a Population from a Large Tertiary Center

  Digestive Diseases and Sciences · 2025-03-06 · 15 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• David T. Rubin

  123 shared

• Russell D. Cohen

  94 shared

• Joel Pekow

  University of Chicago

  86 shared

• Atsushi Sakuraba

  Hokkaido University

  85 shared

• Jacob E. Ollech

  University of Chicago

  43 shared

• Neil Hyman

  University of Chicago

  34 shared

• Roger D. Hurst

  34 shared

• Dejan Mićić

  University of Chicago

  31 shared

Awards & honors

• Named one of the "Best Doctors in America" by Best Doctors,…
• Consistently named one of Chicago's "Top Doctors" by Castle…