Alan H. B. Wu

Last updated

Alan H. B. Wu
Occupation
    • Chemist
    • Toxicologist

Alan H. B. Wu is an American clinical chemist, toxicologist, professor, and author. He is known for his work in laboratory medicine [1] , particularly in clinical chemistry, cardiac biomarkers, pharmacogenomics, and clinical toxicology. [2] He is a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) [3] , and Chief of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology and Co-Core Lab Director at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. [4]

Contents

Academic and professional career

In 1982, Wu began his academic career as Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, where he served as Associate and then Director of Clinical Chemistry at Memorial Hermann Hospital. [5]

After a decade in Texas, Wu left for a position at Hartford Hospital, where he served as Director of Clinical Chemistry and Professor of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center. He also held appointments as Professor of Pathobiology and Chemistry at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. [6]

In 2004, Wu joined the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco as Professor of Laboratory Medicine [3] and Director of Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology, and Pharmacogenomics at San Francisco General Hospital. [4]

Research

Wu’s research has focused on cardiac biomarkers, clinical toxicology, point-of-care diagnostics, and pharmacogenomics. [7] He has published over 550 peer-reviewed papers and co-authored multiple book chapters and clinical textbooks. [8]  

In the area of cardiac markers, he and his research group were among the first to evaluate the clinical value of cardiac troponin and the natriuretic peptides that are in widespread clinical use today. [9]  

He has been active on committees to standardize testing and has participated in the creation and authorship of clinical practice guidelines for cardiac markers. [10] More recently, he has conducted research on biomarkers for traumatic brain injury and contributed a textbook on this topic. [2]

His group was among the first clinical lab to initiate untargeted identifications using exact molecular formula. [11]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wu suspended his normal research work [1] to conduct laboratory-based studies on SARS-CoV-2 molecular, antigen and antibody testing.  [12]

In addition to his scientific publications, Wu is the author of eight books of short stories designed to raise public awareness of laboratory medicine. [13] His stories are based on real cases, where the  and aim to depict the behind-the-scenes role of lab professionals in patient care. [13] He has also launched a social media campaign to educate the general public as to the value of the clinical laboratory. [14] His advocacy stresses that clinical labs are essential in both diagnosis and long-term health management, especially in emergency settings and public health crises. [15]

He has advocated for better media representation of clinical laboratories and is developing a television drama series centered on a clinical laboratory director and his team of scientists solving medical cases using diagnostic tools. [16]

He has drawn comparisons between the potential impact of a lab-focused TV show and the forensic science popularity surge following programs such as CSI and NCIS. [17]  

References

  1. 1 2 Weise, Elizabeth. "Many coronavirus mutations are circling the globe, but we don't know if any are more dangerous". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Barrett, Bob (May 31, 2023). "Using Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury_ Lessons from Implementing Cardiac Troponin". myadlm.org. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  3. 1 2 Hulme, Georgia. "A Master of Many Sitting Down With… Alan Wu, Professor of Laboratory Medicine". The Pathologist. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Wells, Dora. "The Atellica IM High-Sensitivity Troponin I assay expands capabilities in cardiac care". www.selectscience.net. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ "2002 Outstanding Contributions in Education". Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine . Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  6. ↑ "MedicalLab Management Magazine Q&A with Alan Wu, PhD" . Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ Thygesen, Kristian A (July 1, 2004). "Cardiac Markers, 2nd ed. Alan H.B. Wu, editor. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2003, 484 pp". Clinical Chemistry. 50 (7): 1276–1277. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2003.024828. ISSN   0009-9147.
  8. ↑ "Alan H.B. Wu, Ph.D., is Chief of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology". Diabetes Technology. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ Wu, Alan H. B. (May 1, 2015). "Analytical validation of novel cardiac biomarkers used in clinical trials". American Heart Journal. 169 (5): 674–683. doi:10.1016/j.ahj.2015.01.016. ISSN   0002-8703. PMID   25965715.
  10. ↑ Williams, Stephen B (2004). "Cardiac Markers, Second Edition". The Texas Heart Institute Journal. 31 (1): 103. PMC   387444 .
  11. ↑ Wu, Alan H. B.; Colby, Jennifer (2016), Garg, Uttam (ed.), "High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Untargeted Drug Screening", Clinical Applications of Mass Spectrometry in Drug Analysis, vol. 1383, New York, NY: Springer New York, pp. 153–166, doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-3252-8_17, ISBN   978-1-4939-3251-1, PMID   26660184 , retrieved July 31, 2025
  12. ↑ Chabria, Anita; Baumgaertner, Emily; Mason, Melanie (April 21, 2020). "Chaos and competition for vital coronavirus test could slow reopening of the economy". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "Episode 128: Dr Alan HB Wu - A Mission To Bring Laboratory Medicine To Television and Film". Health Podcast Network. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Prognostic risk in cardiac patients using the Atellica IM High-Sensitivity Troponin I assay". www.siemens-healthineers.com. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  15. ↑ Wu, Alan H.B. (May 3, 2016). "Promoting the value of precision medicine to the public: the power of story telling". Expert Review of Precision Medicine and Drug Development. 1 (3): 233–234. doi:10.1080/23808993.2016.1171118. ISSN   2380-8993.
  16. ↑ "TV Series Highlighting 'Unsung Heroes' of Medical Field | Zuckberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center". zsfg.ucsf.edu. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Lab Director and Author to Create TV Series Highlighting 'Unsung Heroes' of the Medical Field | Zuckberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center". zsfg.ucsf.edu. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
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