Carissa Chu

Dr. Carissa Chu is a physician-scientist and urologic oncologist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Department of Urology in the School of Medicine. Her research is focused on translational studies of bladder and prostate cancers, with an emphasis on understanding drug resistance mechanisms, tumor heterogeneity, and identifying biomarkers to personalize cancer care.

Research Interests: Dr. Chu’s work spans urologic oncology, precision medicine, and cancer disparities. She investigates molecular subtypes in urothelial and prostate cancers, the role of targets like NECTIN-4 and TROP2 in therapy response, and the use of imaging and genomic tools in active surveillance. Her research aims to bridge laboratory findings with clinical applications to improve patient outcomes.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend toward precision oncology, with a focus on genomic heterogeneity, biomarker development, and optimizing surveillance strategies in prostate and bladder cancers. Her work frequently appears in high-impact journals such as Clinical Cancer Research and European Urology.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Poster in Session, Western Section AUA Annual Meeting (2019)
• NIH TL-1 Translational Research Grant (2020)
• NIH T-32 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (2022)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award (2022)
• Ferdinand C. Valentine Award for Research in Urology (2023)
• NIH K-12 HDFCCC K12 Physician Scientist Program in Clinical Oncology

Advising and Grants: While specific students are not listed, Dr. Chu leads a translational research lab and has secured multiple competitive grants, including NIH K12, T32, and TL1 awards, indicating active mentorship and research funding. Her work is supported by major institutions like the NIH and the UCSF CTSI, reflecting her role as an independent investigator in clinical oncology research.

Labs and Teams: Dr. Chu runs a translational research laboratory focused on tumor tissue analysis in urologic cancers. She collaborates extensively with multidisciplinary teams at UCSF and Memorial Sloan Kettering, contributing to large-scale studies on cancer disparities, imaging, and therapeutic resistance.