Rebecca Gruchalla, M.D., Ph.D.

Internal Medicine - Allergy and Immunology

New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-8300

Biography

Rebecca S. Gruchalla, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Allergy and Immunology. She specializes in pediatric asthma.

Originally from Houston, Dr. Gruchalla holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. She earned her doctorate in immunology and her medical degree at UT Southwestern. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and her fellowship in allergy and immunology training at UT Southwestern.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, Dr. Gruchalla joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 1990. She holds the William A. Sellars M.D. and Joyce M. Sellars Distinguished Chair in Allergy and Immunology.

Her clinical research focuses on inner-city pediatric asthma. Dr. Gruchalla has been leading NIAID-funded studies on inner-city pediatric asthma since 1994, and served as the Dallas site director of the multisite Inner City Asthma Consortium through 2021.

Her investigations have resulted in more than 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals, reviews, editorials, and book chapters. Additionally, she has presented her findings at scientific conferences throughout the United States and around the world.

Dr. Gruchalla is a past board member of the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, where she is a Fellow and also serves on the credential and awards committees. She also is an active member of the Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society, the Texas Medical Association and the American Thoracic Society.

Education & Training

Fellowship - UT Southwestern Medical Center (1988-1991), Allergy & Immunology
Residency - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1986-1988), Internal Medicine
Internship - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (1985-1986), Internal Medicine
Medical School - UT Southwestern Medical School (1981-1985)

Professional Associations & Affiliations

American Thoracic Society
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Honors & Awards

D Magazine Best Doctor 2011-2022
D Magazine Best Pediatric Specialist 2020
Texas Super Doctor 2017, Texas Monthly Magazine
Women’s Involvement in the AAAAI 2007, Special Recognition Award
Gail G. Shapiro Memorial Lectureship 2007, Lectureship Award
AAAAI Special Recognition Award 2004, Editorial Award
Aventis/AAAAI Women Physician in Allergy Grant Award 2003, Research Award
Boehringer-Ingelheim AAAI/NIAID 1992, Research Award

Books & Publications

Publications
- Clinical Phenotypes of Immediate First-Dose Reactions to mRNA COVID-19: A Multicenter Latent Class Analysis.
  Stone CA, Robinson LB, Li L, Krantz MS, Kwah JH, Ortega G, Mancini C, Wolfson AR, Saff RR, Samarakoon U, Hong DI, Koo G, Chow TG, Gruchalla R, Liao JX, Kuster JK, Price C, Ahola C, Khan DA, Phillips EJ, Banerji A, Blumenthal KG, The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice 2023 Feb 11 2 458-465.e1
- African-specific alleles modify risk for asthma at the 17q12-q21 locus in African Americans.
  Washington C, Dapas M, Biddanda A, Magnaye KM, Aneas I, Helling BA, Szczesny B, Boorgula MP, Taub MA, Kenny E, Mathias RA, Barnes KC, Khurana Hershey GK, Kercsmar CM, Gereige JD, Makhija M, Gruchalla RS, Gill MA, Liu AH, Rastogi D, Busse W, Gergen PJ, Visness CM, Gold DR, Hartert T, Johnson CC, Lemanske RF, Martinez FD, Miller RL, Ownby D, Seroogy CM, Wright AL, Zoratti EM, Bacharier LB, Kattan M, O'Connor GT, Wood RA, Nobrega MA, Altman MC, Jackson DJ, Gern JE, McKennan CG, Ober C, Genome medicine 2022 Sep 14 1 112
- Mepolizumab for urban children with exacerbation-prone eosinophilic asthma in the USA (MUPPITS-2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.
  Jackson DJ, Bacharier LB, Gergen PJ, Gagalis L, Calatroni A, Wellford S, Gill MA, Stokes J, Liu AH, Gruchalla RS, Cohen RT, Makhija M, Khurana Hershey GK, O'Connor GT, Pongracic JA, Sherenian MG, Rivera-Spoljaric K, Zoratti EM, Teach SJ, Kattan M, Dutmer CM, Kim H, Lamm C, Sheehan WJ, Segnitz RM, Dill-McFarland KA, Visness CM, Becker PM, Gern JE, Sorkness CA, Busse WW, Altman MC, Lancet (London, England) 2022 08 400 10351 502-511
- Human Epidemiology and RespOnse to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS): Objectives, Design and Enrollment Results of a 12-City Remote Observational Surveillance Study of Households with Children using Direct-to-Participant Methods.
  Fulkerson PC, Lussier SJ, Bendixsen CG, Castina SM, Gebretsadik T, Marlin JS, Russell PB, Seibold MA, Everman JL, Moore CM, Snyder BM, Thompson K, Tregoning GS, Wellford S, Arbes SJ, Bacharier LB, Calatroni A, Camargo CA, Dupont WD, Furuta GT, Gruchalla RS, Gupta RS, Hershey GK, Jackson DJ, Johnson CC, Kattan M, Liu AH, Murrison L, Oâ Connor GT, Phipatanakul W, Rivera-Spoljaric K, Rothenberg ME, Seroogy CM, Teach SJ, Zoratti EM, Togias A, Hartert TV, medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences 2022 Jul
- Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission in households with children with asthma and allergy: A prospective surveillance study.
  Seibold MA, Moore CM, Everman JL, Williams BJM, Nolin JD, Fairbanks-Mahnke A, Plender EG, Patel BB, Arbes SJ, Bacharier LB, Bendixsen CG, Calatroni A, Camargo CA, Dupont WD, Furuta GT, Gebretsadik T, Gruchalla RS, Gupta RS, Khurana Hershey GK, Murrison LB, Jackson DJ, Johnson CC, Kattan M, Liu AH, Lussier SJ, O'Connor GT, Rivera-Spoljaric K, Phipatanakul W, Rothenberg ME, Seroogy CM, Teach SJ, Zoratti EM, Togias A, Fulkerson PC, Hartert TV, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2022 Jun
- Association of mold levels in urban children's homes with difficult-to-control asthma.
  Vesper S, Wymer L, Kroner J, Pongracic JA, Zoratti EM, Little FF, Wood RA, Kercsmar CM, Gruchalla RS, Gill MA, Kattan M, Teach SJ, Patel S, Johnson CC, Bacharier LB, Gern JE, Jackson DJ, Sigelman SM, Togias A, Liu AH, Busse WW, Khurana Hershey GK, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2021 Oct
- Heterogeneity of magnitude, allergen immunodominance, and cytokine polarization of cockroach allergen-specific T cell responses in allergic sensitized children.
  da Silva Antunes R, Sutherland A, Frazier A, Schulten V, Pomés A, Glesner J, Calatroni A, Altman MC, Wood RA, O'Connor GT, Pongracic JA, Khurana Hershey GK, Kercsmar CM, Gruchalla RS, Gill M, Liu AH, Zoratti E, Kattan M, Busse PJ, Bacharier LB, Teach SJ, Wheatley LM, Togias A, Busse WW, Jackson DJ, Sette A, Clinical and translational allergy 2021 Oct 11 8 e12073
- Inducible expression quantitative trait locus analysis of the MUC5AC gene in asthma in urban populations of children.
  Altman MC, Flynn K, Rosasco MG, Dapas M, Kattan M, Lovinsky-Desir S, O'Connor GT, Gill MA, Gruchalla RS, Liu AH, Pongracic JA, Khurana Hershey GK, Zoratti EM, Teach SJ, Rastrogi D, Wood RA, Bacharier LB, LeBeau P, Gergen PJ, Togias A, Busse WW, Presnell S, Gern JE, Ober C, Jackson DJ, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2021 May
- Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Responses to Rhinovirus C and Age-Dependent Patterns of Infection.
  Choi T, Devries M, Bacharier LB, Busse W, Camargo CA, Cohen R, Demuri GP, Evans MD, Fitzpatrick AM, Gergen PJ, Grindle K, Gruchalla R, Hartert T, Hasegawa K, Khurana Hershey GK, Holt P, Homil K, Jartti T, Kattan M, Kercsmar C, Kim H, Laing IA, LeBeau P, Lee KE, Le Souëf PN, Liu A, Mauger DT, Ober C, Pappas T, Patel SJ, Phipatanakul W, Pongracic J, Seroogy C, Sly PD, Tisler C, Wald ER, Wood R, Gangnon R, Jackson DJ, Lemanske RF, Gern JE, Bochkov YA, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2021 Apr 203 7 822-830
- Serum IgG Profiling of Toddlers Reveals a Subgroup with Elevated Seropositive Antibodies to Viruses Correlating with Increased Vaccine and Autoantigen Responses.
  Pichilingue-Reto P, Raj P, Li QZ, Dozmorov I, Karp DR, Wakeland EK, Nelson M, Gruchalla RS, de la Morena MT, van Oers NSC, Journal of clinical immunology 2021 Mar
- Aeroallergen Sensitization, Serum IgE, and Eosinophilia as Predictors of Response to Omalizumab Therapy during the Fall Season among Children with Persistent Asthma.
  Sheehan WJ, Krouse RZ, Calatroni A, Gergen PJ, Gern JE, Gill MA, Gruchalla RS, Khurana Hershey GK, Kattan M, Kercsmar CM, Lamm CI, Little FF, Makhija MM, Searing DA, Zoratti E, Busse WW, Teach SJ, The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice 2020 May
- Serum IL-6: A Biomarker in Childhood Asthma?
  Jackson DJ, Bacharier LB, Calatroni A, Gill MA, Hu J, Liu AH, Wheatley LM, Gern JE, Gruchalla RS, Khurana Hershey GK, Kattan M, Kercsmar CM, Kim H, O'Connor GT, Patel S, Pongracic JA, Wood RA, Busse WW, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2020 Jan
- Mind the gaps: Clinical trial concepts to address unanswered questions in aeroallergen immunotherapy-An NIAID/AHRQ Workshop.
  Wheatley LM, Wood R, Nadeau K, Liu A, Zoratti E, Bacharier L, Brittain E, Calderon M, Casale T, Chipps B, Cox L, Creticos PS, Desai M, Dreborg S, Durham S, Gergen PJ, Gruchalla R, Nelson H, O'Hehir RE, Plaut M, Schwaninger JM, Tilles S, Vickery B, Wittenberg KM, Togias A, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2019 May 143 5 1711-1726
- Transcriptome networks identify mechanisms of viral and nonviral asthma exacerbations in children.
  Altman MC, Gill MA, Whalen E, Babineau DC, Shao B, Liu AH, Jepson B, Gruchalla RS, O'Connor GT, Pongracic JA, Kercsmar CM, Khurana Hershey GK, Zoratti EM, Johnson CC, Teach SJ, Kattan M, Bacharier LB, Beigelman A, Sigelman SM, Presnell S, Gern JE, Gergen PJ, Wheatley LM, Togias A, Busse WW, Jackson DJ, Nature immunology 2019 05 20 5 637-651
- Controversies in Drug Allergy: Drug Allergy Pathways.
  Chiriac AM, Banerji A, Gruchalla RS, Thong BYH, Wickner P, Mertes PM, Terreehorst I, Blumenthal KG The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice 2019 Jan 7 1 46-60.e4
- A computerized decision support tool to implement asthma guidelines for children and adolescents.
  Kercsmar CM, Sorkness CA, Calatroni A, Gergen PJ, Bloomberg GR, Gruchalla RS, Kattan M, Liu AH, O'Connor GT, Pongracic JA, Szefler SJ, Teach SJ, Wildfire JJ, Wood RA, Zoratti EM, Busse WW The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2018 Dec
- Rhinitis in Children and Adolescents with Asthma: Ubiquitous, Difficult to Control, and Associated with Asthma Outcomes.
  Togias A, Gergen PJ, Hu JW, Babineau DC, Wood RA, Cohen RT, Makhija MM, Khurana Hershey GK, Kercsmar CM, Gruchalla RS, Liu AH, Wang E, Kim H, Lamm CI, Bacherier LB, Pillai D, Sigelman SM, Gern JE, Busse WW The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2018 Sep
- Effects of Omalizumab on Rhinovirus Infections, Illnesses and Exacerbations of Asthma.
  Esquivel A, Busse WW, Calatroni A, Togias AG, Grindle KG, Bochkov YA, Gruchalla RS, Kattan M, Kercsmar CM, Khurana Hershey G, Kim H, Lebeau P, Liu AH, Szefler SJ, Teach SJ, West JB, Wildfire J, Pongracic JA, Gern JE American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2017 Jun
- The nasal methylome and childhood atopic asthma.
  Yang IV, Pedersen BS, Liu AH, O'Connor GT, Pillai D, Kattan M, Misiak RT, Gruchalla R, Szefler SJ, Khurana Hershey GK, Kercsmar C, Richards A, Stevens AD, Kolakowski CA, Makhija M, Sorkness CA, Krouse RZ, Visness C, Davidson EJ, Hennessy CE, Martin RJ, Togias A, Busse WW, Schwartz DA The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2017 May 139 5 1478-1488
- Minimally important differences and risk levels for the Composite Asthma Severity Index.
  Krouse RZ, Sorkness CA, Wildfire JJ, Calatroni A, Gruchalla R, Hershey GKK, Kattan M, Liu AH, Makhija M, Teach SJ, West JB, Wood RA, Zoratti EM, Gergen PJ The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2017 Mar 139 3 1052-1055
- Can We Predict Fall Asthma Exacerbations? Validation Of The Seasonal Asthma Exacerbation Index.
  Hoch HE, Calatroni A, West JB, Liu AH, Gergen PJ, Gruchalla RS, Hershey KG, Kercsmar CM, Kim H, Lamm CI, Makhija MM, Mitchell HE, Teach SJ, Wildfire JJ, Busse WW, Szefler SJ The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2017 Feb
- Can We Be Too Clean for Our Own Good? The Hygiene Hypothesis Reviewed.
  Patel S, Gruchalla R Texas medicine 2017 Feb 113 2 54-59
- Preventing peanut allergy through early consumption--ready for prime time?
  Gruchalla RS, Sampson HA The New England journal of medicine 2015 Feb 372 9 875-7
- IgE cross-linking critically impairs human monocyte function by blocking phagocytosis.
  Pyle DM, Yang VS, Gruchalla RS, Farrar JD, Gill MA The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2013 Feb 131 2 491-500.e5
- Randomized trial of omalizumab (anti-IgE) for asthma in inner-city children.
  Busse WW, Morgan WJ, Gergen PJ, Mitchell HE, Gern JE, Liu AH, Gruchalla RS, Kattan M, Teach SJ, Pongracic JA, Chmiel JF, Steinbach SF, Calatroni A, Togias A, Thompson KM, Szefler SJ, Sorkness CA The New England journal of medicine 2011 Mar 364 11 1005-15
- Counterregulation between the FcepsilonRI pathway and antiviral responses in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
  Gill MA, Bajwa G, George TA, Dong CC, Dougherty II, Jiang N, Gan VN, Gruchalla RS Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2010 Jun 184 11 5999-6006
- Management of asthma based on exhaled nitric oxide in addition to guidelines-based treatment for inner-city adolescents and young adults: a randomized controlled trial
  Szefler AJ, Mitchell H, Sorkness CA, Gergen PJ, O’Connor GT, Morgan WJ, Kattan M, Pongracic JA, Teach SA, Bloomberg GR, Eggleston PA, Gruchalla RS, Kercsmar CM, Liu AH, Wildfire JJ, Curry MD, Busse WW Lancet 2008 372 (9643) 1065-72
- Management of asthma based on exhaled nitric oxide in addition to guidelines-based treatment for inner-city adolescents and young adults: a randomized controlled trial
  Szefler SJ, Mitchell H, Sorkness CA, Gergen PJ, O’Connor GT, Morgan WJ, Kattan M, Pongracic JA, Teach SA, Bloomberg GR, Eggleston PA, Gruchalla RS, Kercsmar CM, Liu AH, Wildfire JJ, Curry MD, Busse WW Lancet 2008 372 (9643) 1065-72
- The Inner City Asthma Study: Relationships between sensitivity, exposure and morbidity
  Gruchalla RS, Pongracic J, Plaut M, Evans R, Visness CM, Walter M, Crain EF, Kattan M, Morgan WJ, Steinback S, Stout J, Malindzak G, Smartt E, Mitchell H Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology March 2005 115 584-91
- The Inner City Asthma Study: Relationships between sensitivity, exposure and morbidity
  Gruchalla RS, Pongracic J, Plaut M, Evans R, Visness CM, Walter M, Crain EF, Kattan M, Morgan WJ, Steinback S, Stout J, Malindzak G, Smartt E, Mitchell H Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology March 2005 115 584-91
- The Inner City Asthma Study: A home-based environmental intervention in inner city children with asthma
  Morgan WJ, Crain E, Gruchalla RS, O’Connor G, Kattan M, Evans R, Stout J, Malindzak G, Smartt E, Plaut M, Walter M, Vaughn B, Mitchell H N England Journal of Medicine August 2004 351 1068-80
- Safety of cephalosporin administration to patients with histories of penicillin allergy
  Daulat S, Solensky R, Earl HS, Casey W, Gruchalla J Allergy Clin Immunol June 2004 6/113 1220-1222
- Home and allergic characteristics of children with asthma in seven US urban communities and design of an environmental intervention: the Inner-City Asthma Study
  Crain EF, Walter, M, O’Conner GT, Mitchell H, Gruchalla RS, Kattan M, Malindzak GS, Enright P, Evans R 3rd, Morgan W, Stout JW Environ Health Perspect September 2002 9/110 939-945
- Lack of penicillin resensitization in patients with a history of penicillin allergy
  Solensky R, Earl HS, Gruchalla RS. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 162 822-826
- Drug metabolism, danger signals and drug hypersensitivity
  Gruchalla RS J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001 108 475-478
- Clinical evaluation of drug-induced disease
  Gruchalla RS Lancet 2000 356 1505-1511

Research

Pediatric Asthma Clinical Research