Edbert D. Lu Email & Phone Number

I am a current M.D. Candidate at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, with an interest in basic science research and a passion for community outreach, especially to those that are underserved.After graduating from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Molecular & Cell Biology and an emphasis in Immunology & Pathogenesis, Infectious Diseases, I spent 3 years in the lab of Dr. William A. Weiss at the University of California, San Francisco as a Staff Research Associate. My work focused on characterizing the TME of CNS malignancies to uncover new drug targets for immunotherapy via mass cytometry (CyTOF), a single-cell based platform that allows for multiplexing of >40 antibody-based markers and deep immune-profiling of tissue samples. As I progress in my career to become a physician scientist, I seek opportunities to improve my abilities as a scientific investigator.In addition to my academic interests, my extensive experiences in community outreach and in the nonprofit sector have honed my passion for leading initiatives that address inequities in access to health care and education. As Co-Founder and CTO of Project SCIFI, I have the privilege of working with an incredible team of STEM professionals to give every student the opportunity to see science with the same vigor and excitement we do. In the ever-changing circumstances that we all face today, Project SCIFI has pivoted its efforts to providing students access to remote education, directing families in need to free resources, and supplying health care workers with PPE. As our nonprofit grows in scope and reach, it is eye-opening, humbling, and inspiring to me to work at the crossroads of various parts the science and health care community. More recently, I have been working closely with the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to develop a sustainable, hands-on education and outreach program for vulnerable youth to gain exposure to health education and the field of anesthesiology. The ultimate goal of this first-of-its-kind initiative at RWJ is to foster long-term relationships between patients and physicians, improve patient trust in physicians and culturally competent teaching and care of underserved patient populations amongst anesthesiologists. I see these experiences being crucial to my growth as a future patient-focused, community-oriented physician. Please see the below links for more information on my research projects and community initiatives.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Edbert_Luhttps://www.projectscifi.org/