Yuan Zhu

Dr. Yuan Zhu is a Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine, holding a tenured position. He previously served as Associate Director of Research at Children’s National Hospital and Scientific Director of the Gilbert Family Neurofibromatosis Institute. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms driving neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and brain tumors, particularly the role of tumor suppressor genes like NF1 and p53 in cancer development. Dr. Zhu’s work has led to clinical trials for NF1-associated tumors and significant contributions to the field of pediatric oncology.

Education: B.S. in Biochemistry from Fudan University (China), Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UT Southwestern Medical Center (2000). Academic positions include Assistant Professor (2003–2010) and Associate Professor (2010–2013) at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Research Interests: Mechanisms of NF1-associated tumors, RAS-MAPK signaling pathway dysregulation, developmental origins of pediatric brain tumors, and translational therapies. His lab develops mouse models to study tumor suppression and test novel treatments.

Awards: AAAS Fellow (2019), CPRIT Scholar (2023), and multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense. He co-chaired the 2014 Children’s Tumor Foundation Conference and leads initiatives in neurofibromatosis research.

Grants & Advising: Active in securing funding for clinical trials and preclinical studies. His lab collaborates across institutions to advance understanding of tumor initiation and therapy resistance.

Labs/Teams: Zhu Lab at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University, focusing on molecular mechanisms of nervous system tumors and neuropsychiatric disorders.