Boston Children's Hospital's Hao Wu, PhD, elected to the National Academy of Sciences

BOSTON, May 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hao Wu, PhD, of the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (PCMM) at Boston Children's Hospital, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

Election to the academy is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. With Wu's election, Boston Children's is now home to seven members of the academy.

"Dr. Wu's election to the National Academy of Sciences is not only a milestone in her career—it's a source of tremendous pride to the Boston Children's Hospital community," said Sandra L. Fenwick, Boston Children's President and CEO. "It is an indication of the respect and admiration that she has earned from her peers, and of the significant impact of the work she has dedicated her life to."

Wu, who is also the Asa and Patricia Springer Professor of Structural Biology and a professor of biological chemistry and molecular biology at Harvard Medical School, studies the physical shape and structure of the signaling molecules the immune system's myriad components use to communicate among themselves.

In particular, Wu focuses on the innate immune system—those elements of immunity that first raise the alarm of an impending threat and mount a defense, regardless of the particular kind of invader (bacterium, virus, etc.). She has made seminal discoveries regarding signalosomes, large protein complexes that mediate the activity of many medically important immune pathways.

"Hao is a truly outstanding scientist, who combines brilliance and imagination with perseverance and thoroughness, and she is tremendously deserving to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences," said PCMM director Frederick Alt, PhD, who himself was elected to the NAS in 1994. "All of us at PCMM are proud of Hao and truly delighted to have her as our colleague."

About Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children's Hospital is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 1,100 scientists, including seven members of the National Academy of Sciences, 14 members of the Institute of Medicine and 14 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's today is a 395-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. Boston Children's is also the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

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Contacts:
Keri Stedman, Boston Children's Hospital
617-919-3110 | [email protected]

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SOURCE Boston Children's Hospital

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