Center for Clinical and Translational Science

Dr. Shin-Rong Julia Wu is conducting her Clinical Scholars research in the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, led by Sid Strickland. She received her MD and PhD degrees from the Michigan Medical School. She completed her internal medicine residency at New York-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she is currently also doing her Hematology/Oncology Fellowship. She was selected to be Co-Chief Scholar for the 2025 – 2026 academic year.

Dr. Wu’s research centers on the interactions between the immune and blood clotting systems, particularly how they maintain homeostasis in health and contribute to organ damage in disease. She specifically investigates how peripheral blood components, including cellular populations and plasma proteins, affect Alzheimer’s disease. Her research interests lie at the intersection of inflammation, coagulation, and neurodegeneration and she uses both murine models and human samples to understand how the immune and blood clotting systems interact in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer Disease. Her current research project is titled: “Investigating the Impact of Inflammation on Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Expression in the Hematopoietic Compartment.

How did you get interested in research?  Were you always interested?
My parents were both scientists, and I remember always admiring them for how much they seemed to know about the natural world. In high school, one of my teachers encouraged me to do a summer research program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. It was in an immunology lab. It was my first exposure to the field, and I was captivated by it. Later, as a college student, my mother took me to an American Association for Cancer Research meeting where the plenary session was on immunotherapy. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and wanted to be able to do what these people were doing.

How did you come to the Strickland Lab?
I have a PhD in immunology and did my medical residency in internal medicine. The original plan was to go into cancer immunotherapy, but during my intern year, the COVID pandemic struck. The immense power of the hemostatic and thrombotic systems captured my interest, similar to how the immune system fascinated me.
Dr. Strickland has been studying how the coagulation system mediates neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease, which is also a well-described neuroinflammatory state. I saw an opportunity to work at the intersection of the blood and the immune system and to learn more about the brain. I’m grateful for the way the Srickland lab has welcomed and supported me.

What is your current research?
I am interested in how the immune and coagulation systems work together in health and disease. My project applies this interest to Alzheimer disease, where I am studying how a protein associated with the disease is produced in the blood and is regulated by immune system activity. The ultimate aim of this project is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how Alzheimer disease develops so that we can better prevent it and treat it.
 
What were your expectations when you joined the Clinical Scholars program, and have they been met?
As I neared the end of my PhD training, my thesis advisor told me that my selection of mentor/mentors in the next stage of my research training would be critical. I hoped that through the Clinical Scholars program, I would find mentorship and support in my development as a physician-scientist.
Because my interests cross disciplines, I need multiple mentors. The Clinical Scholars program has helped facilitate initial connections to potential mentors, and my Master’s degree Advisory Research Committee has helped formalize and foster those relationships.

What are your expectations and/or goals as Chief Scholar?
My first goal is to meet the expectations of the role and serve well! I want to help keep the program running smoothly and find opportunities to make it more effective at supporting the development of translational scientists. I also see this as a chance for me to learn through this work. Many of us note the strengths and weaknesses of leaders we admire and those we don’t. I’m looking forward to putting theory into practice. I’m reminded of being an intern, where you must make this huge jump applying knowledge to actual practice. The subsequent years of clinical training really challenge you to grow. I strive to be open to the same growth opportunities in this role.

What has been a learning opportunity or teaching moment as a Scholar?
Writing a human subjects research protocol and thinking about the practicalities of translational research has been a fantastic learning experience. My research background is in bench-based science, where you have much more control over variables. I have been learning how to integrate the core principles of a well-executed experiment to fit real-world considerations. The facilitation office has been instrumental in this process. Because of their support, I’ve rapidly accrued participants and started collecting data. Their support and instruction have been very valuable to my research.

What has been the most educational, engaging, and/or surprising aspect of being in the Clinical Scholars program?
It is a joy and pleasure to be part of this group of researchers. They understand the attraction of clinical service and scientific research and the unique challenges of trying to straddle these worlds. I find inspiration, encouragement, and camaraderie from the other Scholars. When I’ve hit the inevitable obstacles and low moments, being in this program and having peers who understand the process have helped keep me motivated. It’s also just really great to befriend some incredibly smart, kind people!

If someone asked you to describe the Clinical Scholars program in one sentence, what would it be?
A community of curious, intelligent, and motivated people connected by a desire to learn about human biology and use that knowledge to do good in the world.

What are your next steps/career goals when you graduate from the program?
My dream job would include time to care for patients with bleeding and clotting disorders and support to continue my research. It’s really rewarding to be able to do both for distinct and complementary reasons.