John S. Yu, MD
Co-Director, Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute
John S. Yu, MD is Co-Director of the Comprehensive Brain Tumor Program at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai. An internationally renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Yu's clinical focus is on the treatment of malignant and benign brain and spinal tumors. He is also conducting extensive research in immune and gene therapy for brain tumors.
Dr. Yu is currently investigating viruses to shuttle immunologic genes as a vaccine against intracranial tumors. The goal of this research is to bolster the body's immune system, thus achieving an anti-tumor effect. Both genetically engineered tumor cells and dendritic cells are used to prime the immune response. Phase I trials of the dendritic cell immunotherapy have been encouraging, and Phase II trials began in September 2000.
In 1996, he received the Academy Award from the American Academy of Neurological Surgery at its annual meeting. That same year, he presented his research on immunologic gene therapy for brain tumors at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Dr. Yu has published articles in several prestigious journals, including Cancer Research, Cancer Gene Therapy, Human Gene Therapy, Journal of Neuroimmunology, Journal of Neurological Science and Journal of Neurosurgery.
Dr. Yu earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University and spent a year at the Sorbonne in Paris studying French literature. He completed his fellowship in immunology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and master's degree from the Harvard University Department of Genetics. He completed his neurosurgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. In addition, he was a neuroscience fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health in the Neuroimmunology Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he was a Culpeper Scholar at the Molecular Neurogenetics Unit at that hospital. Other honors include the Preuss Award, Joint Section on Tumors, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Congress of Neurologic Surgeons.
