Meet MMRI: Tongbin Wu Ph.D.

Tongbin Wu, Ph.D., has been named assistant professor of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI. In this role, Wu will oversee a laboratory dedicated to heart development and cardiovascular medicine.

Specifically, his laboratory will research novel therapeutic targets and advance the development of treatments for left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), a cardiac muscle disorder in which the lower left chamber of the heart does not develop correctly, also known as “spongy heart.” Wu’s laboratory will also research dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart muscle disease that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood.

“My work is dedicated to mapping the intricate web of factors that control the types of proteins that are produced in the heart, which is then used to create targets for therapeutics for when the heart is affected by disease,” said Wu. “I’m excited to join the collaborative environment here at MMRI and to continue my important research.”

Wu completed his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology at Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, and his postdoctoral training in molecular cardiology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, California. While at UCSD, Wu’s work was published in highly regarded scientific journals including, Circulation, PNAS, Circulation Research, PLOS Genetics and Nature Structure and Molecular Biology.

Wu is one of six world-renowned faculty members in the biomedical research and translational medicine department at MMRI, which includes Maria Kontaridis, Ph.D., executive director and Gordon K. Moe professor and chair of biomedical research and translational medicine, Jason McCarthy, Ph.D., associate professor and scientific operations director, Chase Kessinger, Ph.D., assistant professor, Zhiqiang Lin, Ph.D., assistant professor and Nathan Tucker, Ph.D., assistant professor.

“MMRI is an internationally recognized leader in biomedical research and the addition of Wu’s laboratory will contribute tremendously to our growing endeavors,” said Dr. Kontaridis. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our organization.”