Lily Wu

Lily Wu is a Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, with appointments in both the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology and the Department of Urology. Her research focuses on microbiome dynamics, virology, and their intersections with HIV, cancer, and transplant medicine.

Research Interests: Dr. Wu investigates the interactions between viral infections (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, HIV) and host microbiomes, particularly in longitudinal cohorts. She explores how these interactions influence disease progression, immune responses, and therapeutic outcomes. Her work also involves genomic sequencing of viral variants and evolutionary studies of antiviral genes.

Publications Trends: Her recent studies analyze the nasopharyngeal and gut microbiome responses to SARS-CoV-2 in HIV-affected populations, urinary virome alterations in kidney transplant recipients, and genetic factors in viral restriction. These span microbiology, virology, and molecular biology.

Grants: Dr. Wu has led NIH-funded projects including:

• R21CA216770 (2017-2019): Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Renal Cell Carcinoma.
• R21CA122693 (2007-2009): PET-guided intervention for prostate cancer lymphatic metastasis.
• R01CA101904 (2003-2013): Gene-based imaging/therapy for metastatic prostate cancer.