Maolin Lu, PhD, an assistant professor of cellular and molecular biology at the Health Science Center at UT Tyler (HSC) has been recognized as an award recipient of the Gilead Research Scholars (GRS) program. Lu, along with six other scholars across the nation were awarded this distinguished honor.
Dr. Lu joined the health science center in June 2021. Prior to her arrival, Lu obtained her bachelor’s degree in biological engineering and her master’s in biochemistry/molecular biology at Xi’an Jiaotong University in Xi’an, China. In 2015, she completed her PhD in photochemical sciences from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The Gilead Research Scholars program supports innovative research from emerging investigators around the world to advance scientific knowledge in areas of unmet medical needs, improving the lives of patients everywhere. GRS is uniquely designed to support basic and clinical research studies toward the study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), throughout North America and globally. The award provides funding for her research project: “Conformational landscape and dynamics of HIV-1 fusion protein required for virus entry.” Dr. Lu has a strong research record in infectious diseases including HIV-1/AIDS and SARS-CoV2/COVID-19 and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed research papers and two invited reviews.
In September, Dr. Lu also received a UT System Rising STARs award of $250,000. The awarded STARs funds assist for purchase of state-of-the-art research equipment or necessary laboratory renovations.
To read more, visit: https://researchscholars.gilead.com/en/hiv_portal/award-recipients.