Baoli Hu, PhD, joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in July of 2017 and was promoted to associate professor in February of 2024.
Dr. Hu received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Northwest A&F University in Yangling, China in 2001. He earned his PhD degree in microbiology from Wuhan University in Wuhan, China in 2004 and completed his postdoctoral training in molecular oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Fla. in 2007.
Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Dr. Hu was a senior research scientist in the Department of Genomic Medicine and Cancer Biology at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2011-17, working in the lab of Ronald DePinho, MD. From 2007-11 he worked with Dr. DePinho as a research scientist in the Department of Medical Oncology and Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at the Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Hu’s research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of brain tumor evolution, including tumor development, progression, and recurrence after the treatment; and developing new strategies for the treatment of these devastating diseases.
Dr. Hu's publications can be reviewed through the National Library of Medicine's publication database.
[See also NIH R01 Grant for Glioblastoma Study and Translational Research.]
Specialized Areas of Interest
Hospital Privileges
Professional Organization Membership
Professional Activities
Education & Training
- BS, Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, 1998
- MS, Animal Breeding and Genetics, Northwest A&F University, 2001
- PhD, Microbiology, Wuhan University, 2004
- Fellow, Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 2007
Honors & Awards
- Pilot Award, RK Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research, 2024
- Hillman Fellow for Innovative Developmental Cancer Research, 2023
- Richard King Mellon Scholar, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2018
- UPMC Competitive Medical Research Fund Award, 2018
- B*CURED Brain Cancer Research Investigator Award, 2018
- Caroline Ross Endowed Fellowship Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017
Research Activities
Dr. Hu’s Brain Tumor Evolution Therapy Lab is dedicated to uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving brain tumor evolution and to developing novel therapeutic strategies for these devastating diseases. The lab’s research is currently supported by two NIH R01 grants, which fund two major areas of investigation:
- Development of a new class of drugs aimed at targeting the immune-suppressive microenvironment in glioblastoma.
- Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying metastatic dissemination in medulloblastoma.
In addition to these primary projects, the lab benefits from collaborative support through multiple NIH-funded initiatives, including NIH R21, NIH/UG3, and other NIH R01 grants. The lab's work has also been supported by several foundations, such as:
- B*CURED Foundation
- V Foundation for Cancer Research
- UPMC Competitive Medical Research Fund
- The Matthew Larson Foundation
- The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation
- The Walter L. Copeland Foundation
- UPMC Hillman Developmental Pilot Program
- RK Mellon Institute for Pediatric Research
Dr. Hu is also actively engaged in graduate education and training. He teaches courses in cancer angiogenesis and cancer neuroscience for students in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program (IBGP) and the Center for Neuroscience (CNUP) Graduate Program at the University of Pittsburgh.
The lab has a strong track record of mentoring postdoctoral fellows, who have received competitive awards, including:
- Walter L. Copeland Foundation Award
- UPMC Children’s Hospital Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Award
- Young Investigator Award from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)