Hua Xu
About Hua Xu
Hua Xu serves as the Assistant Dean for Biomedical Informatics at Yale School of Medicine and holds the position of Robert T. McCluskey Professor and Vice-Chair of the Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science. With extensive experience in biomedical informatics, he has published over 280 peer-reviewed papers and has led significant initiatives in natural language processing within healthcare.
Current Role at Yale University
Hua Xu serves as the Assistant Dean for Biomedical Informatics at the Yale School of Medicine. He has held this position since 2023, contributing to the advancement of biomedical informatics education and research. Additionally, he is the Robert T. McCluskey Professor and Vice-Chair of the Section of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science. His role involves overseeing various initiatives aimed at integrating data science into biomedical research and improving healthcare outcomes.
Previous Experience in Biomedical Informatics
Prior to his current role, Hua Xu worked at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) as the Glassell Family Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Translational AI in Medicine for nine months in 2022-2023. He also held various positions at UTHealth Houston, including Professor and Director of the Center for Computational Biomedicine from 2015 to 2022, and Associate Dean for Innovation from 2021 to 2023. His experience spans over a decade in leading research and educational initiatives in biomedical informatics.
Educational Background
Hua Xu completed his PhD in Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University from 2005 to 2008. He also holds a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, which he obtained in 2001. His undergraduate studies were completed at Nanjing University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from 1994 to 1998. This diverse educational background has equipped him with a strong foundation in both biomedical and computational sciences.
Research Contributions and Publications
Hua Xu has made significant contributions to the field of biomedical informatics, evidenced by his publication of over 280 peer-reviewed papers. His research focuses on developing methods, software, and applications in biomedical natural language processing, particularly in areas such as drug discovery, cancer research, and mental health. He has served as a principal investigator on numerous grants from organizations including the NIH, AHA, and CPRIT, further highlighting his active engagement in advancing the field.
Leadership in Professional Organizations
Hua Xu has held leadership roles in professional organizations, including chairing the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) NLP Working Group from 2013 to 2014. He is also a fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics, a recognition he received in 2014 for his contributions to the field. His involvement in these organizations reflects his commitment to advancing the discipline of biomedical informatics and fostering collaboration among professionals.