Lu, Bill

Biography

Dr. Lu obtained his MD in medicine and Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Human Genetics. His research interests center on finding innovative solutions to the most difficult to treat human diseases using genetic tools. He works with premed students to achieve their career goals.

Education

• MD. Shanghai Medical University, Clinical Medicine
• Ph.D. University of Manitoba, Biochemistry and Medical Genetics
• BS. University of Manitoba, Computer Sciences

Honors & Awards:

• 2023  Teaching Excellence Award, School of Engineering, Santa Clara University, USA
• 2021  Research Excellence Award, School of Engineering, Santa Clara University, USA 
• 2013  Technology Innovation Award, System Biosciences, California, USA
• 2004  Distinguished PhD Dissertation Award, University of Manitoba, Canada
• 1996  National Research Fellowship Award, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, USA
• 1994  Cheng Scholar Fellowship Award, Cheng Scholar Foundation, Hong Kong
• 1992  Teaching and Research Excellence Award, Shanghai Medical College, China
• 1992  Young Scientist Award, Chinese Pathophysiology Society, China

Courses Taught:

• Undergraduate Course
  1.    BIOE22 (Lecture & Lab) Molecular and Cell Biology 
  2.    BIOE171 (Lecture & Lab) Physiology and Anatomy for Engineers
  3.    BIOE175 Molecular and Cellular Engineering
  4.    BIOE100/200 Bioengineering Research Seminar
  5.    BIOE194-196 Senior Design Project
  6.    BIOE199 Supervised independent research
  7.    BIOE150/250 Genetic and therapeutic engineering

•  

  Graduate Course
  1.    BIOE263 Genome Engineering and Bioinformatics 
  2.    BIOE300 Antibody Engineering
  3.    BIOE301 Protein Engineering and Therapeutics
  4.    BIOE302 Gene and Cell Therapy
  5.    BIOE256 Introduction to Nanobioengineering
  6.    BIOE294-296 Capstone Project 
  7.    BIOE297 Directed Research
  8.    BIOE397 Master’s Thesis Research

Academic Achievements:

• Published over 60 research articles and book chapters
• Filed 4 patents
• Editorial board members
• Ad hoc reviewers

     Current research areas

• Nanomedicine (treating genetic disease, Alzheimer’s, cancer and viral infection)
• Targeted drug delivery (developing exosome-based targeted drug delivery system)
• Gene therapy (viral and non-viral gene delivery technology)
• Gene and protein design (for disease modeling and protein therapeutics)
• Molecular sensors (high throughput technology for drug screening)
• Molecular imaging (fluorescence and bioluminescence probes for in vitro & in vivo imaging)

Research Expertise:

• Nano-vesicle for drug delivery: Development of cell-derived nano-vesicle for applications such as vesicle trafficking and imaging, drug delivery, targeted therapy. Pioneer in vesicle engineering for drug loading and tissue targeting. An inventor in genetic modification of nano-vesicle for the treatment of human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders.
• Genome engineering and gene therapy: Developed genome editing tools (TALEN, Cas-9, Cre-LoxP, and homologous recombinant vectors) for manipulating DNA sequences in living human cells. These technological tools are distributed world wide.
• Molecular sensor and high throughput applications: Development of novel and advanced genetic systems such as a molecular circuit for signaling sensing, drug screening, and environmental and toxicity studies.
• Molecular imaging and vesicular trafficking: Development of genetically encoded reporters for live-cell imaging and vesicular trafficking in human cells using an advanced confocal microscope and fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

Career Highlights:

• Cancer researcher at UCSF
• Medical intern in New York
• Senior scientist, R&D Biotechnology in Bay Area  

Selected Research Articles (total citation: 4690, h-index: 30)

An updated list of publications is available on Dr. Lu’s google scholar profile. Student coauthors (undergraduate and graduate) are indicated with an asterisk (*). The principal investigator of the published work is designated as the corresponding author, highlighted in bold and underlined.

1. Christopher Olson*, Konstantin Ivanov*, Darin Boyes*, David Bengford*, Joy Ku*, Renceh Flojo*, Pengyang Zhang* and B. (2024). Dual-Omics Approach Unveils Novel Perspective on the Quality Control of Genetically Engineered Exosomes. Pharmaceutics 16, 824. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060824
2. Welsh JA,…Lu, B et al. (2024). Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): from basic to advanced approaches. J Extracell Vesicles. 13(2):e12404
3. Olson C*, Zhang P*; Ku J*, Flojo R*, Boyes D*, and Lu, B. (2023). A novel dual-reporter system reveals distinct characteristics of exosome-mediate protein secretion in human cells. Biological Proced Online. (2023) 25:25 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12575-023-00219-w
4. Zhang J*, Brown A*, Johnson B*, Diebold D*, Asano K*, Marriott G, and Lu, B. (2022). Genetically engineered extracellular vesicles harboring transmembrane scaffolds exhibit differences in their size, expression levels of specific surface markers and cell-uptake. Pharmaceutics 14, 2564.
5. Lu, B, Ku J*, Flojo R*, Olson C*, Bengford D*, and Marriott G. (2022). Exosome-and extracellular vesicle-based approaches for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 114465.
6. Annie Brown*, Jiayi Zhang*, Brendan Lawler* and Lu, B (2021) Recapture lysosomal enzyme deficiency via targeted gene disruption in human haploid cell line. 12:1076.
7. Daniel Levy*, Mai An Do*, Jiayi Zhang*, Annie Brown* and Lu, B (2021) Orchestrating extracellular vesicle with dual reporters for imaging and capturing in mammalian cell culture. Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences   8:680580
8. Duong N*, Do M*, Levy D*, Brown A*, Marriott G, Lu, B (2020) Sequential deletion of CD63 reveals critical domains for exosome targeting and surface engineering. Nanoscale 12:12014-12026.
9. Levy D*, Do M*, Brown A*, Asano K*, Diebold D*, Zhang J*, Chen H*, Lawler B*, Lu, B (2020). Genetic labeling of extracellular vesicle for studying biogenesis and uptake in living mammalian cells. Methods in Enzymology 645:1-14
10. Do M*, Levy D*, Brown A*, Marriott G, Lu, B (2019) Targeted delivery of lysosomal enzymes to the endocytic compartment in human cells using engineered extracellular vesicles. Scientific Reports 9(1), 1-11
11. Duong N*, Curley K*, Brown A*, Campanelli A*, Do M*, Levy D*, Tantry A*, Marriott G, Lu, B (2019) Decoy exosome as a novel biologic reagent for antagonizing inflammation. International Journal of Nanomedicine 14:3413-3425
12. Duong N*, Curley K*, Do M*, Levy D*, Lu, B (2019) A novel genetic circuit supports laboratory automation and high throughput monitoring of inflammatory response in living human cells. In “Cell Signaling-Thermodynamics and Molecular Control” INTECH Open. Page 25-43.
13. Zhang Z, Stickney Z*, Duong N*, Curley K*, Lu, B (2017) AAV-based dual-reporter circuit for monitoring cell signaling in living human cells. Journal of Biological Engineering.11:18.
14. Sengupta R, Mendenhall A, Sarkar N, Mukherjee C, Afshari A*, Huang J, Lu, B (2017) Viral Cre-LoxP tools aid genome engineering in mammalian cells. Journal of Biological Engineering. 11:45.
15. Meyer C*, Losacco J*, Stickney Z*, Li L*, Marriott G, Lu, B (2017) Pseudotyping exosomes for enhanced protein delivery in mammalian cells. International Journal of Nanomedicine. 12:3153-3170
16. Zachary Stickney*, Joseph Losacco*, Sophie McDevitt*, Zhiwen Zhang, Lu, B (2016) Development of exosome surface display technology in living human cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 472(1):53-59
17. Sengupta R, Mukherjee C, Sarkar N, Sun Z, Lesnik J, Huang J and Lu, B (2016) An optimized protocol for packaging pesudotyped integrase defective lentivirus. Biol Proced Online. 18:4.
18. Yu L, Batara J, and Lu, B. (2016) Application of genome editing technology to microRNA research in mammals. In “Gene Correction Technology” edited by MK, INTECH Open. Page 163-185.
19. Afshari A*, Uhde-Stone C, Lu, B (2015) A cooled CCD camera-based protocol provides an effective solution for in vitro monitoring of luciferase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 458(3):543-8.
20. Uhde-Stone C, Sarkar N, Antes T, Otoc N, Kim Y, Jiang YJ, Lu, B (2014) A TALEN-based strategy for efficient bi-allelic miRNA ablation in human cells. RNA. 20(6):948-55
21. Afshari A, Uhde-Stone C, Lu, B (2014) Live visualization and quantification of pathway signaling with dual fluorescent and bioluminescent reporters. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 448(3):281-6.
22. Uhde-Stone C, Cheung E, Lu, B (2014) TALE activators regulate gene expression in a position- and strand-dependent manner in mammalian cells." Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 443(4):1189-94.
23. Uhde-Stone C, Gor NL, Chin T, Huang J, Lu, B (2013) A do-it-yourself protocol for simple TALE assembly. Biol Proced Online. 15(1):3.
24. Uhde-Stone C, Huang J, Lu, B, (2012) A robust dual reporter system to visualize and quantify gene expression mediated by transcription activator-like effectors. Biol Proced Online. 14(1):8.
25. Maggie Fong, Jake Lesnik, Gang Li, Travis J. Antes, Lu, B. (2010) Cyto-Tracers™: Novel lentiviral-based molecular imaging tools. 49(5):839-840
26. Lu, B, Xu FY, Taylor WA, Feingold KR, Hatch GM. (2011) Cardiolipin synthase-1 mRNA expression does not correlate with endogenous cardiolipin synthase enzyme activity in vitro and in vivo in Mammalian lipopolysaccharide models of inflammation. Inflammation. 34(4):247-54.
27. Lu, B, Jiang YJ, Kim P, Moser A, Elias PM, Grunfeld C, Feingold KR. (2010) Expression and regulation of GPAT isoforms in cultured human keratinocytes and rodent epidermis. J Lipid Res. 51(11):3207-16.
28. Jiang YJ, Lu, B, Tarling E, Kim P, Man M, Edwards PA, Elias PM, Feingold KR. (2010) Regulation of ABCG1 expression in human keratinocytes and murine epidermis. J Lipid Res. 51:3185-95
29. Jiang YJ, Barish G, Lu, B, Evans RM, Crumrine D, Schmuth M, Elias PM, Feingold KR. (2010) PPARδ activation promotes stratum corneum formation and epidermal permeability barrier development during late gestation. J Invest Dermatol. 130(2):511-9.
30. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B, Crumrine, D., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2010). IL‐6 Stimulates but is not essential for stratum corneum formation and permeability barrier development during gestation. Experimental Dermatology 19, e31-e36.
31. Lu B, Moser, A., Shigenaga, J.K., Grunfeld, C., and Feingold, K.R. (2010) The acute phase response stimulates the expression of angiopoietin like protein 4. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 391:1737-41.
32. Jiang, Y.J., Uchida, Y., Lu B, Kim, P., Mao, C., Akiyama, M., Elias, P.M., Holleran, W.M., Grunfeld, C., and Feingold, K.R. (2009) Ceramide stimulates ABCA12 expression via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor {delta} in human keratinocytes. J Biol Chem 284:18942-18952.
33. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B, Crumrine, D., Man, M.Q., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2009) IL-1alpha accelerates stratum corneum formation and improves permeability barrier homeostasis during murine fetal development. J Dermatol Sci 54:88-98.
34. Jiang, Y.J., Barish, G., Lu, B, Evans, R.M., Crumrine, D., Schmuth, M., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2009) PPARdelta activation promotes stratum corneum formation and epidermal permeability barrier development during late gestation. J Invest Dermatol 130:511-519.
35. Lu, B., Lu, Y., Moser, A.H., Shigenaga, J.K., Grunfeld, C., and Feingold, K.R. (2008). LPS and proinflammatory cytokines decrease lipin-1 in mouse adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 295:E1502-1509.
36. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B., Kim, P., Paragh, G., Schmitz, G., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2008) PPAR and LXR activators regulate ABCA12 expression in human keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol 128:104-109.
37. Van, Q., Liu, J., Lu, B., Feingold, K.R., Shi, Y., Lee, R.M., and Hatch, G.M. (2007) Phospholipid scramblase-3 regulates cardiolipin de novo biosynthesis and its resynthesis in growing HeLa cells. Biochem J 401:103-109.
38. Lu, B., Sims, P.J., Wiedmer, T., Moser, A.H., Shigenaga, J.K., Grunfeld, C., and Feingold, K.R. (2007) Expression of the phospholipid scramblase (PLSCR) gene family during the acute phase response. Biochim Biophys Acta 1771:1177-1185.
39. Lu, B., Xu, F.Y., Jiang, Y.J., Choy, P.C., Hatch, G.M., Grunfeld, C., and Feingold, K.R.(2006) Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding human cardiolipin synthase. J Lipid Res 47:1140-1145.
40. Lu, B., Moser, A.H., Shigenaga, J.K., Feingold, K.R., and Grunfeld, C. (2006) Type II nuclear hormone receptors, coactivator, and target gene repression in adipose tissue in the acute-phase response. J Lipid Res 47:2179-2190.
41. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B., Kim, P., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2006) Regulation of ABCA1 expression in human keratinocytes and murine epidermis. J Lipid Res 47:2248-2258.
42. Lu B, Elias PM, and Feingold KR. (2006) The role of the primary cytokines, TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 in permeability barrier homeostasis. In “Skin Barrier”. Edited by PM Elise and KR Feingold, editors. Taylor & Francis Group, New York. Page 305-318.
43. Webster, J., Jiang, J.Y., Lu, B., Xu, F.Y., Taylor, W.A., Mymin, M., Zhang, M., Minuk, G.Y., and Hatch, G.M. (2005) On the mechanism of the increase in cardiolipin biosynthesis and resynthesis in hepatocytes during rat liver regeneration. Biochem J 386:137-143.
44. Lu, B., Jiang, Y.J., Zhou, Y., Xu, F.Y., Hatch, G.M., and Choy, P.C. (2005) Cloning and characterization of murine 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferases and their regulation by PPARa in murine heart. Biochem J 385:469-477.
45. Lu, B., Jiang, Y.J., Man, M.Q., Brown, B., Elias, P.M., and Feingold, K.R. (2005). Expression and regulation of 1-acyl-sn-glycerol- 3-phosphate acyltransferases in the epidermis. J Lipid Res 46:2448-57.
46. Lu, B., Kelher, M.R., Lee, D.P., Lewin, T.M., Coleman, R.A., Choy, P.C., and Hatch, G.M. (2004). Complex expression pattern of the Barth syndrome gene product tafazzin in human cell lines and murine tissues. Biochem Cell Biol 82:569-576.
47. Lu, B., Jiang, Y.J., and Choy, P.C. (2004). 17-Beta estradiol enhances prostaglandin E2 production in human U937-derived macrophages. Mol Cell Biochem 262:101-110.
48. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B., Xu, F.Y., Gartshore, J., Taylor, W.A., Halayko, A.J., Gonzalez, F.J., Takasaki, J., Choy, P.C., and Hatch, G.M. (2004). Stimulation of cardiac cardiolipin biosynthesis by PPARalpha activation. J Lipid Res 45:244-252.
49. Lu B and Choy PC. (2004) Modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in monocytes and myocytes. In “Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease”. Edited by N.S Dhalla, H. Rupp, A, Angel, and GN Pierce, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston. Page 329-340.
50. Peng, B., Lu, B., Leygue, E., and Murphy, L.C. (2003). Putative functional characteristics of human estrogen receptor-beta isoforms. J Mol Endocrinol 30:13-29.
51. Jiang, Y.J., Xu, T.R., Lu, B., Mymin, D., Kroeger, E.A., Dembinski, T., Yang, X., Hatch, G.M., and Choy, P.C. (2003). Cyclooxygenase expression is elevated in retinoic acid-differentiated U937 cells. Biochim Biophys Acta 1633:51-60.
52. Jiang, Y.J., Lu, B., Choy, P.C., and Hatch, G.M. (2003) Regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 expression by PMA, TNFalpha, LPS and M-CSF in human monocytes and macrophages. Mol Cell Biochem 246:31-38.
53. Emberley, E., Huang, G.J., Hamedani, M.K., Czosnek, A., Ali, D., Grolla, A., Lu, B., Watson, P.H., Murphy, L.C., and Leygue, E. (2003) Identification of new human coding steroid receptor RNA activator isoforms. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 301:509-515.
54. Lu B., Leygue, E., Dotzlaw, H., Murphy, L.J., and Murphy, L.C. (2000) Functional characteristics of a novel murine estrogen receptor-beta isoform, estrogen receptor-beta 2. J Mol Endocrinol 25:229-
55. Murphy, L. C., E. Leygue, H. Dotzlaw, G.J. Huang, Lu B, Huang A, and Watson PH. (2000). Multiple facets of estrogen receptor in human breast cancer. In “Contemporary Endocrinology: Endocrine Oncology”. Edited by S. P. Ethier. Humana Press Inc. Totowa. Page 17-34.
56. Lu B., Dotzlaw, H., Leygue, E., Murphy, L.J., Watson, P.H., and Murphy, L.C. (1999) Estrogen receptor-alpha mRNA variants in murine and human tissues. Mol Cell Endocrinol 158:153-161.
57. Johnston, S.R., Lu, B., Scott, G.K., Kushner, P.J., Smith, I.E., Dowsett, M., and Benz, C.C. (1999) Increased activator protein-1 DNA binding and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activity in human breast tumors with acquired tamoxifen resistance. Clin Cancer Res 5:251-256.
58. Lu B., Liang, X., Scott, G.K., Chang, C.H., Baldwin, M.A., Thomas, T., and Benz, C.C. (1998) Polyamine inhibition of estrogen receptor (ER) DNA-binding and ligand-binding functions. Breast Cancer Res Treat 48:243-257.
59. Lu B., Leygue, E., Dotzlaw, H., Murphy, L.J., Murphy, L.C., and Watson, P.H. (1998) Estrogen receptor-beta mRNA variants in human and murine tissues. Mol Cell Endocrinol 138:199-203.
60. Liang, X., Lu B., Scott, G.K., Chang, C., Baldwin, M., and Benz, C. (1998) Oxidant stress impaired DNA-binding of estrogen receptor from human breast cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 146:151-161.
61. Leygue, E., Dotzlaw, H., Lu B., Glor, C., Watson, P.H., and Murphy, L.C. (1998) Estrogen receptor beta: mine is longer than yours? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:3754-3755.
62. Johnston, S.R., Lu B., Dowsett, M., Liang, X., Kaufmann, M., Scott, G.K., Osborne, C.K., and Benz, C.C. (1997) Comparison of estrogen receptor DNA binding in untreated and acquired antiestrogen-resistant human breast tumors. Cancer Res 57:3723-3727.