Puget Sound Blood Center | Research: Xiaoyun Fu Laboratory

Xiaoyun Fu Laboratory

Research in the Fu lab focuses on disorders related to inflammation and thrombotic diseases, conditions that can be enhanced by our own immune systems. White blood cells respond to local sites of infection by releasing a host of factors capable of destroying invading pathogens and bacteria. One of the immune responses is to generate bacteria-killing oxidants which work just like bleach to "disinfect." However, these powerful oxidants can also damage the surrounding healthy tissue, causing organ and/or blood vessel injury.

Our research uses mass spectrometry and biochemical methods to better understand the pathophysiology (abnormal functional changes) of a wide range of diseases related to inflammation and thrombosis and develop methods for prevention and new therapeutic strategies.

Areas of Study
We seek to understand how oxidants from white blood cells might:

Control the function of metalloproteases (a family of enzymes) during inflammation

Regulate the function of blood clotting factors such as von Willebrand Factor and ADAMTS13

Contribute to damage to the red blood cells during storage and in patients with inflammation

Read more

Dr Fu's Background

Joined Puget Sound Blood Center in 2008

Published over 70 peer-reviewed research articles as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator

Ph.D. in Chemistry from Zhejiang University (China)

Served as Associate Professor (1993-1997) and Full Professor of Chemistry (1997-2001) at Zhejiang University

Became a visiting scientist in the Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis in 1999, emphasizing mass spectrometry and proteomics to solve problems at the interface of chemistry and biology

Appointed to the faculty as a Research Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in 2001

Relocated to the University of Washington in 2002 and was promoted to Research Associate Professor of Medicine in 2006