Dr. Xiaofeng Wu: Senior Scientist at Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism at Pfizer Inc, United States
Dr. Xiaofeng Wu is a Senior Scientist at Pfizer Inc., where he works in the Medicine Design division specializing in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and metabolism. With a passion for advancing healthcare research, Dr. Wu has focused much of his career on utilizing proteomics and phosphoproteomics to understand complex disease mechanisms, discover novel biomarkers, and monitor drug efficacy. His research has made significant contributions to the field of clinical proteomics, particularly in relation to extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human biofluids. Dr. Wu earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University, where he worked on innovative techniques in mass spectrometry, establishing himself as a leading researcher in translational proteomics.
Online Profiles:
Dr. Wu’s publications have garnered significant attention in the scientific community, with a citation count of 386 and an h-index of 9 (indicating a strong influence in his field). His i10-index stands at 9, showing the sustained impact of his published work.
Education:
Dr. Wu’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Peking University, where he developed a strong foundation in analytical chemistry. He later pursued a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at Purdue University, under the mentorship of Prof. W. Andy Tao. At Purdue, he focused on the cutting-edge use of mass spectrometry in the study of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for translational research, including drug metabolism, disease biomarkers, and therapeutic monitoring. His doctoral research provided insights into new proteomic techniques that hold promise for improving clinical practices in oncology, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Research Focus:
Dr. Wu’s research is primarily focused on extracellular vesicles (EVs), tiny particles secreted by cells that carry proteins, lipids, and RNA. He has pioneered methods to isolate and analyze EVs from human biofluids like plasma, urine, and tissue, exploring their potential as sources for disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. His work is especially notable in the areas of cancer diagnostics, drug response monitoring, and precision medicine. Using advanced mass spectrometry techniques, Dr. Wu’s research aims to provide deeper insights into protein and phosphoprotein signaling in various diseases, enabling faster and more accurate disease diagnosis and treatment efficacy evaluation. He is also dedicated to developing novel, high-throughput analytical methods to make these approaches more practical for clinical settings.
Experience:
Dr. Wu’s professional experience includes his current role as Senior Scientist at Pfizer Inc., where he applies his expertise in pharmacokinetics and mass spectrometry to advance drug development. He plays a pivotal role in the characterization of drug metabolism and efficacy through the analysis of extracellular vesicles. Before joining Pfizer, Dr. Wu earned his Ph.D. at Purdue University, where he worked on multiple collaborative research projects with prominent institutions such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Merck & Co., and Indiana University Health. Throughout his career, Dr. Wu has co-authored over 20 publications, many in top-tier journals, and has been invited to present his work at international conferences. His multidisciplinary collaborations have also extended to various sectors, including pharmaceutical companies and academic research labs, making him a recognized leader in his field.
Research Timeline:
- 2022 – Present: Senior Scientist at Pfizer Inc., focusing on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and metabolism in drug development. Dr. Wu is heavily involved in the analysis of protein biomarkers in extracellular vesicles for therapeutic assessment.
- 2016 – 2022: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University, under the mentorship of Prof. W. Andy Tao. His dissertation focused on developing new methods for proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles and their use in clinical applications.
- 2012 – 2016: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Peking University. Dr. Wu’s early research explored the basics of analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry, laying the foundation for his future work in proteomics.
Awards & Honors:
Dr. Wu has received numerous honors and accolades throughout his career. He has been invited to speak at major scientific conferences, including the American Society of Mass Spectrometry and the US HUPO Conference, where he shared his research on EV proteomics and biomarker discovery. Additionally, he serves as a guest reviewer for high-impact journals such as Journal of Proteome Research, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, and Proteomics – Clinical Applications. He is also on the editorial boards of several scientific journals, reflecting his expertise and influence in the field of analytical chemistry and proteomics. Dr. Wu’s pioneering work on the development of high-throughput methods for analyzing EVs has also been recognized with publications in top-tier journals.
Top-Noted Publication:
Wu, X., Liu, Y.-K., Iliuk, A. B., Tao, W. A. (2023). One-Pot Analytical Pipeline for Efficient and Sensitive Proteomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles. Journal of Proteome Research, 22(10), 3301-3310. This publication showcases Dr. Wu’s innovative work on a novel one-pot method for isolating and analyzing extracellular vesicles, providing a fast and efficient approach for clinical proteomics. The paper is highly regarded in the scientific community and has contributed significantly to the advancement of translational research in proteomics.
- “Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics in clinical applications”
X Wu, YK Liu, AB Iliuk, WA Tao, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 163, 117066 (2023).
This influential paper discusses the role of mass spectrometry in phosphoproteomics, focusing on its clinical applications, including monitoring disease progression and therapeutic responses through protein phosphorylation.
Citations: 9 - “In-depth discovery of protein lactylation in hepatocellular carcinoma”
X Wu, Proteomics, 23(9), 2300003 (2023).
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of protein lactylation in hepatocellular carcinoma, uncovering new insights into the post-translational modifications that could serve as biomarkers for liver cancer diagnosis.
Citations: 9 - “All-in-One strategy for downstream molecular profiling of tumor-derived exosomes”
S Wang, Y He, J Lu, Y Wang, X Wu, G Yan, X Fang, B Liu, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 14(32), 36341–36352 (2022).
This paper presents a robust strategy for profiling tumor-derived exosomes, offering a powerful tool for molecular cancer diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring.
Citations: 9 - “One-Pot Analytical Pipeline for Efficient and Sensitive Proteomic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles”
YK Liu, X Wu, M Hadisurya, L Li, H Kaimakliotis, A Iliuk, WA Tao, Journal of Proteome Research, 22(10), 3301–3310 (2023).
This publication highlights the development of an efficient and sensitive one-pot analytical pipeline for EV proteomics, improving the speed and accuracy of extracellular vesicle analysis in clinical settings.
Citations: 3 - “Isolation and identification of plasma extracellular vesicles protein biomarkers”
MV Lihon, M Hadisurya, X Wu, A Iliuk, WA Tao, Cancer Systems and Integrative Biology, 207–217 (2023).
This study focuses on isolating and identifying plasma EV protein biomarkers, providing significant contributions to cancer biomarker discovery for early detection and monitoring.
Citations: 3 - “Monitoring drug metabolic pathways through extracellular vesicles in mouse plasma”
X Wu, M Quan, M Hadisurya, J Hu, YK Liu, Y Zhuang, L Li, AB Iliuk, PNAS Nexus, 3(2), pgae023 (2024).
This paper explores the use of EVs in monitoring drug metabolism pathways in mouse plasma, further bridging the gap between clinical research and therapeutic drug development.
Citations: 2