Yanyuan Wu

Yanyuan Wu, MD is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Her research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of breast cancer progression, particularly in underserved populations, with emphasis on HER2/neu overexpressing tumors and targeted therapies. Key areas include oncogenic roles of Akt, Snail/Slug transcription factors, and drug resistance mechanisms.

Her work integrates epigenetic studies, signaling pathway analysis, and clinical applications to address health disparities. Notable collaborations involve investigating vitamin D receptor polymorphisms' impact on breast cancer prognosis and the role of inflammatory cytokines in cancer risk among African American and Latin American women.

Wu has published extensively on breast cancer biology, with over 50 peer-reviewed articles since 2002. Her most cited work explores epithelial-mesenchymal transition (2016, 100 citations) and trastuzumab resistance mechanisms (2020, 13 citations). She has collaborated with researchers like Jaydutt Vadgama and Sheilah Clayton, focusing on translational oncology and molecular therapeutics.

While no formal awards are listed, her research demonstrates sustained impact in cancer biology and health equity through continuous publication activity across two decades.