Hong Wu, M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, UCLA Member, Jonsson Cancer Center, UCLA Member, Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA Office: CHS   23-214 Office Phone: 310-825-5160 Office Fax:310 267 0242 Lab: CHS  23-234 Lab Phone: 310 825 5454

Hong Wu is a Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at UCLA School of Medicine, and a member of UCLA Molecular Biology Institute and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is the Director of the UCLA Molecular Genetics Technology Center and the co-director of Cancer Stem Cell Program area of the newly formed UCLA Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine. Dr. Wu received her M.D. degree from Beijing Medical College, China, and her Ph.D. degree in biological chemistry from Harvard Medical School, working with Rudolf Jaenisch at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. She was a Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell postdoctoral fellow with Harvey Lodish at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT. Her laboratory studies the signal transduction pathways controlled by the PTEN tumor suppressor gene, using various genetically engineered animal tumor models.

Collaborator Xin Liu, M.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Our research aims at understanding the molecular basis of nervous system development, plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our main focus is on the function of Delta-catenin (d-cat). D-cat is a member of the Armadillo protein family which interacts with Presenilin1 (PS1) and is expressed exclusively in the brain. We developed mice that lack d-cat expression and found that d-cat mutants have a significant deficiency in learning and LTP. Currently, we are studying the mechanism of delta catenin regulation trying to dissect out d-cat’s role in synaptic adherens and Alzheimer's disease.

Lab Members

Postdoctoral Fellows


Jing Jiao, Ph.D.

I am interested in elucidating novel signaling pathways regulated by PTEN and their biological significance related to tumorigenesis control and normal metabolism. Currently, through the combination of in vivo knockin animal model and in vitro biochemical approaches I am working on identifying potential protein substrates for PTEN and other novel pathways regulated by this critical tumor suppressor. In addition, I am also interested in the role of PTEN in prostate cancer control, specifically its functional interplay with the prostate specific tumor suppressor Nkx3.1.













Wei Guo, Ph.D.













David J Mulholland, M.S., Ph.D.

I am interested in mechanisms contributing to progressive prostate cancer.

Using in vivo approaches, including the PTEN-null mouse model and reconstitution assays, I am assessing roles that PI3K/Akt and Wnt/Beta-catenin signaling axes serve in promoting the phenotype of androgen independent prostate cancer.

I am also involved in preclinical trials of pharmacological inhibitors that have potential for treatment of advanced prostate cancer.













Reginald Hill, Ph.D.

Damon Runyon Fellow

I completed my graduate work at UNC-Chapel Hill in the lab of Dr. Terry Van Dyke where I assessed the impact of pRbf inactivation in the prostate epithelium of transgenic mice. Rb Family Inactivation in the Prostate. p53’s role in Prostate Stromal Response I have continued my career in cancer research and I am currently a first year postdoctoral researcher in the Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Department at UCLA. My research currently focuses on exploring the role of Pten in pancreas tumorigenesis. Gaining a better understanding of the early mechanisms that lead to pancreatic cancer would help to prevent the disease in susceptible people before an invasive carcinoma develops. After completing my postdoctoral work I plan to establish myself as a principal investigator at a major university working in translational research utilizing mouse models of human cancer.













Suzanne Schubbert, Ph.D.















Phioanh (Leia)Nghiemphu, M.D.

















Graduate Students

Cheryl Matter














Mochtar Pribadi

B.S. Biochemistry, UCLA

I am investigating in the role of delta-catenin in neuronal beta-catenin signaling and its possible involvement in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. We are utilizing a combination of in vitro and in vivo models including delta-catenin knockout mutant mice.














Sherly Mosessian

I received my BS in Biochemistry from UCLA and am currently pursuing my PhD through the department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology. The area of my study is in investigating novel PTEN signaling pathways. Currently the two focuses of my project are on identifying and characterizing protein substrates for PTEN and on understanding the role of the PTEN complex in the context of its tumor suppressor function.












Bahram Valamehr

My background includes B.S. from UCLA, M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and employment at Amgen Inc. The main focus of my studies is related to the differentiation of embryonic stem cell. Currently, I am investigating the effects of surface materials on embryoid body development. A culture system that allows for the formation of a uniformed size population of embryoid bodies can ultimately lead to better directed differentiation with higher yields of the cell type of choice. Joining Hong's lab has been the most challenging yet fulfilling experience of my career.














Alex Garcia














Jonathan Nakashima













Kate Barzan















Antreas Hindoyan
















Laboratory Personnel

Ying Wang











Rong Qiao













Ana Rivas















Undergraduate Students


Christine Kim












Joseph Hargan












James Chen
B.S Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics UCLA 2008

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Scholar

I am studying the fundamental nature of self-renewal mechanisms in both normal stem cells and leukemia stem cells (LSCs). With the help of our T cell leukemia model, I am trying to understand how the privilege of self-renewal is regulated. Due to a number of observations about this particular T cell leukemia, Bmi1’s role has become my primary focus.






Jennifer Lau












Kayln Pham














Laboratory Alumni

• Ashkan Morim, B.S.
• Shungyou Wang, Ph.D.
• Xiaoman Zhou
• Siavash Samimi
• Caroline Gregorian, Ph.D.
• Rachel Kim, Ph.D.
• Joe Lasky, M.D.
• Alice Chang, Ph.D.
• Grace Lei, Ph.D.
• Bangyan Stiles, Ph.D. Currently Assistant Professor at USC Programs in Biomedical & Biological Sciences
• Joanna Liliental, Ph.D.
• Hildabelis Martinez-Diaz, M.D.
• Armin Jegalian, Ph.D.
• Robert Lee, Ph.D.
• Heather Christofk
• Inbal Israely, Ph.D.
• Kelly Wong, Ph.D.
• Matthias Grozer, Ph.D.
• Jing Gao
• Gang Li, Ph.D.
• Nathalie Kertesz, Ph.D.
• Peter Tsai, Ph.D.
• Daniel J. Freeman, Ph.D.
• Margy Blavin
• Amy Pandya