Yang Lu, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Imaging
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Professor, Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Patient Experience Officer, Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research Interests
- Radiomics studies to promote patient care
- Novel radio tracers and radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging and targeted therapy
Clinical Interests
- Clinical Nuclear Medicine
- PET/CT
- PET/MRI
- Radionuclide and radio-immunotherapy
- Developing novel imaging techniques for better patient care
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2001 | Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, CN, Cancer Immunology, M.D., Ph.D |
Postgraduate Training
| 2011-2011 | Nuclear Oncology Fellow (PGY5), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York |
| 2008-2011 | Nuclear Medicine Resident (PGY2-PGY4), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York |
| 2007-2008 | General Surgery Intern (PGY1), Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| 2003-2006 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, Marion Messin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York |
| 2002-2003 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cancer Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York |
| 2001-2002 | Resident Physician, Internal Medicine, South Medical University, Guangzhou |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2011 | American Board of Nuclear Medicine |
Experience & Service
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Medical Director of Clinical Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2017 - 2024
Chief, Section of Nuclear Medicine & PET/CT, Department of Radiology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, 2012 - 2017
Other Professional Positions
Guest Professorship, PET Center of Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, 2017 - 2019
Member, Radiology Departmental Research Review Committee, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 2014 - 2017
Chairman, Radiation Safety Committee, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2013 - 2017
Chairman, Human Use Radioisotope Subcommittee and Radioactive Drug Research Subcommittee, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2013 - 2017
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Member, MD Anderson Cancer Center Data and Safety Monitoring Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Member, Diagnostic Imaging Clinical Research Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Member, Diagnostic Imaging Faculty Awards Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - 2022
Member, Diagnostic Imaging Informatics Functional Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017 - Present
Editorial Activities
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Medicine, 2023 - Present
Committee Member and ACNM Co-Author, ACR-ACNM Practice parameter for performing FDG-PET/CT in Oncology, 2020 - Present
Committee Member and ACNM Co-Author, ACR-ACNM Practice parameter for the performance of hepatobiliary scintigraphy, 2020 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Clinical Nuclear Medicine, 2020 - Present
Editorial Board Member, Molecular Medicine Reports, 2020 - Present
Committee Member and ACNM Co-Author, ACR-ACNM-SNMMI-SPR for the use of Radiopharmaceuticals in Diagnostic Procedures, 2020
MOC Exam Questions Writer, American Board of Nuclear Medicine, 2016 - Present
Committee member (ACNM) and Co-author, ACR-ACNM Practice parameter for the performance of DaT SPECT Imaging for movement disorders, 2016 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2022 | Oustanding Clinical Research Scholar, Diagnostic Imaging Division, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2021 | American College of Nuclear Medicine Recognition Award, American College of Nuclear Medicine |
| 2019 | Purple Carpet Award, Bernie Mac Foundation |
| 2017 - 2018 | Editor’s Recognition Award, Clinical Nuclear Medicine |
| 2016 | 2016 Certification of Editor's Recognition Award, Clinical Nuclear Medicine Journal |
| 2016 | Rising Star Award, University of Illinois, College of Medicine |
| 2015 | Outstanding Clinical Investigator for Sarcoidosis, Bernie Mac Foundation |
| 2011 | Young Investigator Award, The 1st Sino-American Conference on Nuclear Medicine |
| 2010 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine Award (2nd place), Young Professionals Committee of SNM |
| 2010 | Travel grant, invited speaker, 4th Annual CSCO (Chinese Society of Clinical Oncologists) Symposium for Tumor Marker and Targeting Therapy, Guangzhou, China |
| 2009 - 2011 | Internship, American College of Nuclear Medicine |
| 2009 | Travel grant, invited speaker, 3rd Annual CSCO (Chinese Society of Clinical Oncologists) Symposium for Tumor Marker and Targeting Therapy, Guangzhou, China |
| 2007 | Travel grant, 6th Annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in St. Louis |
| 2007 | Travel grant, invited speaker, 1st Annual CSCO (Chinese Society of Clinical Oncologists) Symposium for Tumor Marker and Targeting Therapy, Guangzhou, China |
| 2006 | Travel Grant, The 3rd WORLD Annual Symposium for Lysosomal Storage Disease |
| 2006 | Young Investigator Award, Asia Pacific Conference of Tumor Biology and Medicine, Guangzhou, China |
| 2004 - 2005 | America Liver Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2021. PET/CT for breast cancer management. Conference. UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. I-131-Iobenguane for MIBG-avid malignant recurrent and/or unresectable pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Conference. UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2019. FDG PET/CT for Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Conference. UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. TRT of pediatric malignancies w/ I-131 MIBG (neuroblastoma). Conference. International Atomic Energy Agency. Houston, TX, US.
- 2018. Evaluation of response to immunotherapy with special focus on lymphoma with FDG PET/CT. Conference. International Atomic Energy Agency. Houston, TX, US.
- 2017. Lung Perfusion SPECT/CT for Definitive, Accurate and Clinical Relevant Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism. Conference. UT MD Anderson. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2017. Update of nuclear medicine imaging for thyroid cancer. Conference. UIC Section of Endocrinology, US.
- 2015. Unique Sarcoidosis Imaging at UIC. Conference. Bernie Mac Foundation/UIC Star Center Lunch Meeting. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Advances in Imaging Lung and Heart Sarcoidosis. Conference. Bernie Mac Foundation. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Imaging during pregnancy for suspected PE. Conference. UIC ObGyn Grand Round, US.
- 2012. PET/CT for Better Cancer Care: Hybrid imaging with FDG and Beyond. Conference. UIC Internal Medicine Grand Round, US.
- 2012. Update on nuclear medicine imaging for thyroid cancer. Conference. UIC Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Combined Conference, US.
- 2012. Nuclear Medicine Imaging for Patients with Thyroid and Parathyroid Diseases. Conference. UIC Endocrinology Fellows Grand Round, US.
- 2012. Update of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging. Conference. UIC Section of Cardiology Grand Round, US.
- 2011. Molecular Imaging and Targeted Radionuclide Therapy: Essential Components for Better Cancer Care. Conference. UIC Cancer Center Grand Round, US.
National Presentations
- 2023. Role of PET/CT for breast cancer management. Invited. FDG, IBC and beyond. IBC Connect webinar, US.
- 2021. Imaging cardiac sarcoidosis. Nuclear Medicine Update 2021: 2nd PET/CT Workshop. Invited. Nuclear Medicine Society, Singapore.
- 2021. ACNM in the Era of Theranostics: Stay Current and Keep Advancing. Conference. ACNM Annual Meeting, US.
- 2021. ACNM 2020: A year-in-review. Invited. ACNM annual meeting, US.
- 2020. Q SPECT/CT for PE diagnosis. Grand Rounds, Department of Radiology. Invited. Icahn School of Medicien at Mount Sinai, US.
- 2018. Lung perfusion SPECT/CT for definitive accurate and clinical relevant diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Invited. 2018SNMMI Mid-Winter & ACNM Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2018. FDG PET/CT for cardiac sarcoidosis evaluation with a 72-hr diet preparation protocol. Invited. 2018 SNMMI Mid-Winter & ACNM Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2017. FDG PET/CT findings of cardiac sarcoid are associated with extra thoracic sarcoid. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2017. Diagnosis of Sarcoid-Associated Aortitis on FDG PET/CT: A Proposed Methodology. Conference. Corresponding author, Poster Presentation, US.
- 2017. The Added Value and Cost Savings of Q-SPECT/CT Over V/Q Scan for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Embolus-Charting Outcomes for a Four-Year Experience. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2016. Suppression of Myocardial 18F-FDG Uptake through Prolonged High-fat Protein and Very Low-carbohydrate Diet before FDG-PET/CT for Evaluation of Patients with Suspected Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2016. A lesion-based Response Prediction model using Pre-therapy PET/CT Image Features for liver-directed Y90 Radioembolization. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2016. FDG distribution pattern tells more than SUV-benign thoracic lymphadenopathy on PET/CT. Conference. Corresponding author, Poster Presentation, US.
- 2015. Unique Sarcoidosis Imaging at UIC. Invited. Bernie Mac Foundation. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2015. Perfusion SPECT/CT Provides Diagnostic Accuracy When Other Pulmonary Embolus Imaging Is Indeterminate. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2015. A novel approach to diagnosis cardiac sarcoidosis: combined nuclear stress test and FDG PET/CT with a sophisticated diet preparation protocol. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2014. Computer Aided Response Prediction Based on Pre-therapy FDG PET/CT Imaging Biomarkers of Y90-SIRT Therapy in Patients with Primary Metastatic Liver Cancers. Conference. Corresponding author, Oral Presentation, US.
- 2014. Phase 1b Study of PGG Beta Glucan in Combination with antiMUC1 antibody (BTH1704) and Gemcitabine for the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. Conference. Poster presentation, US.
- 2014. A unique description of stage iv extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (emzl) in an adolescent associated with gamma heavy chain disease (gammahcd) showing excellent response to bendamustine-rituximab. Conference. Poster presentation, US.
- 2013. Comparison of FDG PET/CT and contrast enhanced CT in staging and follow-up of cholangiocarcinoma. Conference. Oral presentation, US.
- 2012. Improved diagnostic accuracy of PE with a novel "hybrid imaging" method: transforming ugly duckling into swan. Conference. Corresponding author, Poster presentation, US.
- 2011. Comparison of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 111In-pentetreotide scan for detection of Merkel cell carcinoma. Conference. Oral presentation, US.
International Presentations
- 2022. FDG PET/CT vs MRI for IBC----Is PET/CT suffice?. Invited. 7th International Annual IBC Symposium. Houston, US.
- 2018. Lesion Based Analytics On Pretherapy FDG PET/CT Radionics To Predict Ibrutinib-resistant Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Invited. EANM, DE.
- 2018. Current Trends of PET/CT in Primary Staging of NSCLC. Invited. Annual Chinese Conference on Oncology. Shenyang, CN.
- 2018. PET/CT evaluation of chemotherapy and immunotherapy induced sarcoid-like reaction or sarcoidosis. Invited. Annual Chinese Conference on Oncology. Shenyang, CN.
- 2018. TRT of pediatric malignancies w/ I-131 MIBG (neuroblastoma). Invited. Regional Training Course on Targeted Radionuclide Therapy. Houston, US.
- 2018. Evaluation of response to immunotherapy with special focus on lymphoma with FDGelet PET/CT, Regional Training Course on Targeted Radionuclide Therapy. Invited. International Atomic Energy Agency. Houston, US.
- 2017. Nuclear Medicinen in GI Tumor. Invited. GI Oncology Group of Chinese Medical Association & Changhai Hospital of Second Military Medical University. Shanghai, CN.
- 2017. Radiomics for GI Oncology Practice. Invited. International GI Oncology Symposium. Shanghai, CN.
- 2017. Role of Cancer Multidisciplinary Team Meeting in Practicing Precision Oncology. Invited. Shanghai International GI Oncology Symposium. Shanghai, CN.
- 2016. A lesion-based Response Prediction model using Pre-therapy PET/CT Image Features for liver-directed Y90 Radioembolization. Invited. Sino-American Symposium on Interventional Medicine and Immunology. Changsha, CN.
- 2016. PET/CT for Oncologic Precision Medicine: Clinical Experience from Academic Medical Center in the USA. Invited. Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital. Shanghai, CN.
- 2016. A novel FDG PET/CT approach to diagnosis cardiac sarcoidosis: UIC protocol. Invited. Tongji Hospital. Wuhan, CN.
- 2016. PET/CT for Precision Medicine Practice. Invited. Xiangya Hospital. Changsha, CN.
- 2012. Successful implementation of software fusion of perfusion SPECT and low dose noncontrast CT with a simple trinary interpretation strategy as an alternative to CT Pulmonary Angiography in diagnosis of PE. Conference. Oral presentation. Milan, IT.
Formal Peers
- 2020. Using Perfusion SPECT/CT to Diagnose Pulmonary Embolism. Invited, US.
- 2020. Update of Nuclear Myocardial Imaging. Grand Rounds, Department of Radiology. Invited, US.
- 2020. Q SPECT/CT for PE diagnosis Grand Rounds. Invited, US.
- 2020. Functional imaging in cancer MDT practice: essential for precision oncology. Invited. Tianjin, CN.
- 2019. PET/CT based functional imaging in the era of precision oncology and personalized cancer care. Invited. Taipei, TW.
- 2017. Role of Cancer Multidisciplinary Team Meetings in Practicing Precision Oncology. Invited. Changsha, Hunan, CN.
- 2017. Clinical Practice of Theranostics in Neuroendocrine Tumors and its Future Development. Invited. Changsha, Hunan, CN.
- 2017. PET/CT for Precision Oncology: Clinical Experience from Academic Medical Centers in the USA. Invited. Fuzhou, CN.
- 2016. Lung Perfusion SPECT/CT for Definitive, Accurate and Clinical Relevant Diagnosis of Acute Pulmonary Embolism. Invited. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2016. PET/CT for Oncologic Precision Medicine. Invited. Shanghai, CN.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | A Pilot Study to Assess the Clinical Utility of PYLARIFY PET-CT for Detecting Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Lantheus |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | A Pilot Study to Assess the Clinical Utility of 18F-Fluciclovine (Axumin) PET-CT for Detecting True- versus Pseudo-Progression of Brain Metastases on Immunotherapy |
| Funding Source: | BlueEarth |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2015 - 2017 |
| Title: | Recombinant simian virus 40 for gene therapy of lysosomal storage diseases |
| Funding Source: | National Organization for Rare Disorders/Roscoe Brady Lysosomal Storage Disease |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2014 - 2015 |
| Title: | An Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase 4, Study to Demonstrate the Prognostic Usefulness of AdreViewTM Scintigraphy for Identifying Subjects with Heart Failure who will Experience Death during 60 Months Follow-up |
| Funding Source: | GE Healthcare Ltd and its affiliate |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2005 - 2007 |
| Title: | Recombinant simian virus 40 for gene therapy of lysosomal storage diseases |
| Funding Source: | National Organization for Rare Disorders/Roscoe Brady Lysosomal Storage Diseases |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Comparative Effectiveness and Accuracy of CT Pulmonary Angiography and Perfusion SPECT fused with Low Dose Non-Contrast CT in Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism |
| Funding Source: | Radiology Society of North American (RSNA) Research Scholar Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | MicroRNA signatures from brush oral cytology to identify post radiotherapy tumor recurrence and metastasis in patients with aggressive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma |
| Funding Source: | Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) Pilot Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Hexokinase II as Prognostic Marker and Therapeutic Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) |
| Funding Source: | American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), Clinical and Translational Research Award |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | A novel FDG PET/CT protocol and miRNA correlations in HCC patients |
| Funding Source: | American Cancer Society, Illinois Division, Basic Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Hexokinase 2 as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer |
| Funding Source: | American Thyroid Association (ATA) Research Grant |
| Role: | PI |
| Title: | Big Data Analytics on Pretherapy Imaging Radiomics to Predict Yittrium-90 Radioembolization (Y90-RE) Response |
| Funding Source: | NIH/NCI |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Book Chapters
- Pizuorno Machado, A, Lu, Y, Wang, Y. Stomach Perforation Post Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Treatment. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 131-134, 2025.
- Mathew, A, Lu, Y, Shatila, M, Wang, Y, Tannir, NM, Siddiqui, BA. Appendicitis Post Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 89-94, 2025.
- Mittal, N, Catinis, C, Lu, Y, Iyer, SP, Okhuysen, PC, Wang, Y. CMV Colitis with Perforation Post Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy with Multi-Organ Failure. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 113-118, 2025.
- Thomas, A, Lu, Y, Nahmod, KA, Tan, D, Altan, M, Shafi, MA, Wang, Y. Diverticulitis Post Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 119-124, 2025.
- Naz, S, Thomas, AS, Wang, Y, Lu, Y. Enteritis and Venous Thromboembolism Related to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 125-129, 2025.
- Kuang, AG, Lu, Y, Tan, D, Shatila, M, Wang, Y, Thompson, JA. Sclerosing Mesenteritis After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 69-148, 2025.
- Sperling, G, Lu, Y, Shatila, M, Varatharajalu, K, Khan, A, Wang, Y, Schneider, BJ. Pneumatosis Intestinalis Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. In: Challenging cases in Immunotherapy Related Organ Toxicities. 1st. Springer, 143-148, 2025.
- Martinez, RB, Gavane, S, Lu, Y. PET imaging of gastric cancer. In: Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. Elsevier, 227-237, 2022.
- Martinez RB, Gavane S, Lu Y. Oncology: gastri cancer. In: Positron Nuclear Medicine Imaging of Encyclopedia of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. Elsevier Ltd, 2021.
- Mariano Jr A, Lu Y. Role of PET/CT in diagnosis and management of choloangiocarcinoma. In: Cholangiocarcinoma: Diagnosis and Treatment. Nova Science Publisher, Inc, 85-100, 2015.
- Chowdhurry JR, Lu Y, Chowdhury NR. Bilirubin metabolism. In: Oxford Textbook of Hepatology-From Basic Science to Clinical Practice. 3rd. Wiley-Blackwell Oxford, 165-73, 2007.
- Chowdhury JR, Lu Y, Chowdhury NR. Bilirubin metabolism and its disorders. In: Review of GI Structure and Function Course. American College of Gastroenterology, 107-15, 2005.
- Chowdhury JR, Lu Y, Chowdhury NR. Bilirubin metabolism and its disorders. In: Review of GI Structure and Function Course. American College of Gastroenterology, 105-14, 2003.
- Liu Y, Zhao J, Lu Y, Trojan J, Wu M, Guo Y, et al. Antisense IGF-I for hepatocellular carcinoma. In: Hepatocellular Carcinoma Methods and Protocols. Humana Press, 221-35, 2000.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026