Please join us for the upcoming Annual Michigan Pioneer Fellows Symposium, when we will celebrate the invaluable research contributions of postdoctoral fellows and highlight the innovative work being done by Pioneer Fellows and other postdoctoral researchers across the University of Michigan.

Registration is open through April 13. Poster Abstracts submission is open through April 1.

2026 Michigan Pioneer Fellows Symposium:
1:00–6:00 p.m., April 23, 2026
BSRB Kahn Auditorium

Schedule:
1:00 Welcome and introductions
1:05 Talks by Pioneer Fellows
3:30 Keynote address: “New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to Accelerate Clinical Trials in a Dish (CTiD),” Joseph C. Wu, M.D., Ph.D. Professor & Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University
4:30 Poster session
5:30 Concluding remarks and reception

Abstract:
Drug discovery and development continue to face significant challenges, with over 90% of candidate drugs failing in clinical trials. These efficacy failures are primarily due to inherent species-specific differences, fundamental biological variances between model organisms and humans, and the limitations of existing models to accurately reflect the complexity of human disease and treatment responses. In this discussion, I will explore how the NIH and FDA are advocating for new alternative methodologies (NAMs) to reduce or replace animal testing. I will highlight recent advancements in technologies such as stem cells, organoids, and microphysiological systems (MPS), along with the roles of clinical genomics and AI/ML. Additionally, I will examine how these platforms can collaboratively enhance our understanding of rare orphan diseases, facilitate drug discovery, support precision medicine, and enable clinical trials in a dish (CTiD).

About the Speaker:
Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD is Director of Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and Simon H. Stertzer, MD, Professor of Medicine and Radiology at Stanford University. Dr. Wu received his MD from Yale University and PhD (Molecular & Medical Pharmacology) at University of California, Los Angeles. He is board certified in cardiovascular medicine. His lab works on genomics, stem cells/organoids, AI/ML, and drug discovery. The main goals are to (i) understand basic disease mechanisms, (ii) implement precision medicine for patients, and (iii) accelerate drug discovery via “new alternative methodologies” (NAMs) and “clinical trial in a dish” (CTiD) concept. Dr. Wu has published >700 manuscripts with H-index of 147 on Google scholar. He is listed as top 0.1% of highly cited researchers by Web of Science for past 7 years (2018-2024). Dr. Wu has received several awards, including the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, NIH Roadmap Transformative Award, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) given out by President Obama at the White House, American Heart Association (AHA) Distinguished Scientist Award, AHA Merit Award, and Burroughs Wellcome Foundation Innovation in Regulatory Science Award. Dr. Wu serves on the FDA Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee. He is on the Board of the Keystone Symposia and American Heart Association. He is a past President of the American Heart Association (2023-2024). Dr. Wu is an elected member or fellow of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), Association of University Cardiologists (AUC), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), American Association of Physicians (AAP), Academia Sinica (Taiwan), American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE), National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and National Academy of Medicine (NAM).