Faculty Profile

Yun Wu

Professor and Chair of Biomedical Engineering

Yun Wu.

Research

Nanomedicine, coined for the application of nanotechnology to medicine, shows great potential to impact healthcare. For patients with cancer and other deadly diseases, I am striving to develop innovative multifunctional nanoparticles based nanomedicine that integrates imaging, diagnosis and therapy in one nanoscale platform to achieve more effective treatment.

For healthy people, early detection of cancer is very important because treatment is often simpler and more effective when cancer is diagnosed at an early stage. I am actively collaborating with medical doctors to develop user friendly and low-cost biosensors that detect circulating biomarkers in blood with high sensitivity and specificity.

My ultimate goal is to turn the biosensors into mobile health devices that bring the clinic to patients and assist in cancer screening. Nanoparticles can be used to fight cancer, but, uncontrolled in the environment, they can be a health risk. My research also focuses on studying the toxicology of nanoparticles and identifying early markers of adverse health effects and injuries.

Research Interests

My research focuses on (1) In vivo: multifunctional nanoparticles to deliver imaging reagents and therapeutic reagents for disease imaging and therapy; (2) Ex vivo: nanoparticles based biosensor for cancer early detection and surveillance; and (3) Nanotoxicology: the effects of nanoparticles on disease development.

Teaching Interests

As a teacher, I will strive to encourage excellence in my students and myself. I believe teaching is to nurture scientific thinking and independent learning. My ultimate goal is to grow with my students and give my students and myself the fulfillment and exhilaration of learning. 

Education

  • PhD, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2009
  • MS, Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology,  2002
  • BS, Polymer Materials and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 2000

Honors, Awards and Special Recognitions

  • BMES Innovation and Career Development Award, Biomedical Engineering Society, 2013
  • Outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher Award, The Ohio State University, 2012, 2011
  • Outstanding Graduate Award for Academic Achievement, The Ohio State University, 2007
  • Outstanding Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University, 2006

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