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A/Prof. Yu Yu

Associate Professor
Curtin Medical School

Oncology and Gynaecology

My passion for cancer research is deeply personal. I lost my grandfather to colorectal cancer when I was young, and witnessing his struggle and the limitations of available treatments inspired me to dedicate my career to improving outcomes for people with hard-to-treat cancers. In many ways, my work feels like a promise I made to him - to help find better answers for future patients and families. As I delved deeper into cancer biology, I became fascinated by the complexity and elegance of cellular systems: how cells grow, communicate, and organise themselves, and how these finely balanced processes can unravel when cancer takes hold. The more I learned about the molecular intricacies of DNA, RNA, and proteins, the more I realised how much remains to be discovered. My goal is to make a meaningful difference by developing more precise and effective cancer treatments that not only improve survival but also preserve quality of life.    

About

Dr Yu Yu is a Senior Research Fellow at the Curtin Medical School and leads the Oncology and Gynaecology Research Program at the Curtin Medical Research Institute.

She holds a PhD in Medicine (Experimental Therapeutics for Cancer) from the University of Sydney, where she also completed a Bachelor of Medical Science (Pharmacology and Biochemistry). Dr Yu undertook postdoctoral training at the renowned Richard W. TeLinde Gynecologic Pathology Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (USA), focusing on therapies for recurrent ovarian cancer.

With over 15 years of experience in developing molecular and cellular therapeutics for cancer, Dr Yu is a former NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellow and Raine/Robson Fellow. Her research continues to advance innovative approaches to improve treatment outcomes for women with ovarian and other gynaecological cancers.

 
  • 2015 Safeway Breast Cancer Poster Award, Safeway
  • 2014 Pathology Young Investigators Day Poster Award, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University
  • 2014 Ann Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, NY
  • 2012 Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship, NHMRC. Relinquished in 2013 due to overseas commitment
  • 2011 Peter Bancroft Prize for Research Work, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney
  • 2008 University Postgraduate Award Scholarship, University of Sydney
  • 2007 Cancer Institute of New South Wales Research Scholar Award, Australia
  • 2007 Young Investigator Award, Society of Free Radical Research Australasia and Japan
  • 2007 Faculty of Medicine Postgraduate Scholarship, University of Sydney
  • 2007 International Postgraduate Award (IPA), University of Sydney
  • 2007 Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (EIPRS), Australian Government

Email: Yu.Yu@curtin.edu.au
Tel: +61 (08) 9266 5063
Curtin Staff Profile

Research Focus

Dr Yu Yu’s research centres on advanced solid cancers and endometriosis, with a particular focus on understanding the biological mechanisms driving tumour and disease recurrence following standard treatments. Her goal is to identify novel biomarkers and develop targeted therapeutics that improve patient survival and quality of life in conditions with a high risk of relapse.

Her work in experimental therapeutics explores drug classes that target cellular iron metabolism, cytoskeletal dynamics, and kinase activity. Using integrated omics approaches, orthotopic animal models, and preclinical testing of investigational drugs, Dr Yu investigates mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance and evaluates rational combination therapies to enhance treatment outcomes.

Her innovative research has been recognised through several competitive awards, including the Outside-the-Box Grant from the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation and the Ann Schreiber Mentored Investigator Award from the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

 

Research Team

Dr Sophie Collard

Research Assistant

Purna Poojary

Research Assistant

Eric Wang

PhD Student

Emily Greygoose

PhD Student

Siddharth Ganesh

PhD Student

Chezhiyan Balachander

PhD Student

Darlene Flynn

Honours Student

Publications

ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is a gynecologic condition characterized by the growth of endometrium-like stroma and glandular elements outside of the uterine cavity. The involvement of hormonal dysregulation, specifically estrogen, is well established in the initiation, progression, and maintenance of the condition. Evidence also highlights the association between endometriosis and altered immune states. The human endometrium is a highly dynamic tissue that undergoes frequent remodeling in response to hormonal regulation during the menstrual cycle. Similarly, endometriosis shares this propensity, compounded by unclear pathogenic mechanisms, presenting unique challenges in defining its etiology and pathology. Here, we provide a lens to understand the interplay between estrogen and innate and adaptive immune systems throughout the menstrual cycle in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Estrogen is closely linked to many altered inflammatory and immunomodulatory states, affecting both tissue-resident and circulatory immune cells. This review summarizes estrogenic interactions with specific myeloid and lymphoid cells, highlighting their implications in the progression of endometriosis.

Greygoose, E., P. Metharom, H. Kula, T. K. Seckin, T. A. Seckin, A. Ayhan, and Y. Yu. 2025. The Estrogen–Immune Interface in Endometriosis.Cells 14 (1)
ABSTRACT

Novel triazolyl-functionalised imidazolium salts and their corresponding AuI/AuIII complexes were synthesised and characterised by spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction studies. The reaction of (mono and bis carbene) AuI complexes with thionyl chloride gave AuIII complexes. These AuIII complexes are reduced to AuI complexes by DMSO dissolution, and react with silver nitrate to afford chelating complexes, where the triazolyl N atoms bind to gold. The triazolyl-functionalised AuI complexes showed potency against ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-8 cells, IC50 < 15 μM).

Al-Buthabhak, H. S., K. Al-Ameed, Y. Yu, A. N. Sobolev, S. A. Moggach, H. Al-Salami, V. Ferro, and M. V. Baker. 2025. Gold(i) and gold(iii) complexes of triazolyl-functionalised NHCs.Rsc Advances 15 (23): 18123-18141.

Tyrosine Kinases in cancer recurrence

A/Prof. Yu Yu

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