Tuesday, April 7, 2015

April 9 DSS to Feature Dr. Hua Lu

This week's Distinguished Scientist Seminar at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine will feature Dr. Hua Lu, Ph.D., Reynolds and Ryan Families Chair of Translational Cancer Research and professor and chair of the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at Tulane University School of Medicine and Tulane Cancer Center.

The lecture, titled "Translating the ribosomal stress-p53 pathway into anti-cancer drug discovery," will take place April 9, 2015, at 4 p.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Medical Sciences Building on USA's main campus.

Dr. Lu's laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular and biochemical basis that underlies physiological and pathological signaling pathways (growth, metabolic, hypoxia, or DNA damage signals), which lead to gene expression and subsequent cell growth arrest, differentiation, senescence, autophagy, or apoptosis. One of his major contributions is to uncover the previously under-appreciated ribosomal stress-p53 signaling pathway together with two other scientists. Recently his lab has identified a novel small molecule called Inauhzin that can suppress tumor growth by activating the p53 pathway as a potential anti-cancer drug candidate.

Dr. Lu earned his medical degree from Jiangxi Medical College in Nanchang, China, and a master of science degree from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing. He earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Rutgers University/University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Lu.

The lecture series is comprised of distinguished scientists from other academic institutions who are invited by the USA College of Medicine basic science departments to present a seminar showcasing their latest research findings. Faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to attend.