Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology/Hematology)Cards
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology/Hematology)
Kathryn Louloudis Scholar in Cancer Research, Medical Oncology and Hematology; Core Faculty, Medical Oncology and Hematology
Biography
Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology and Hematology) and Neurology and the Kathryn Louloudis Scholar in Cancer Research at the Yale School of Medicine in addition to a Medical Oncologist at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine with Honors in Research. Dr. Lu completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital and his fellowship in Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center, where he also served as the inaugural Chief Fellow. His clinical and research interests involve understanding and improving immune therapies for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors.
Dr. Lu also directs the Yale Tumor Neuroimmunology Lab, which is dedicated to understanding how the immune system interacts with cancers in the brain, with the ultimate goal of developing clinically relevant biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. Dr. Lu’s research has been supported by the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation, American Brain Tumor Association, Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer, Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer, Yale Cancer Center Advanced Training Program for Physician Scientists (T32), and the Yale Cancer Center Calabresi Immuno-Oncology Training Program (K12).
Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Center for Thoracic Cancers
- Janeway Society
- Tumor Neuroimmunology Lab
- Yale Medicine
- Yale New Haven Health System
Education & Training
- PhD
- Yale University, Investigative Medicine (2024)
- Postdoctoral Fellow
- Yale School of Medicine (2023)
- Fellowship
- Yale Cancer Center (2022)
- Chief Fellow
- Yale Cancer Center (2022)
- Residency
- Yale New Haven Hospital (2019)
- MD
- New York University (2015)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Teaching & Mentoring
Mentoring
Fuwei Shang
Postdoc2026 - PresentAlyssa Klee
Graduate student2025 - PresentHeng-Le Chen
Postgrad associate2025 - PresentSamuel Craft
Postdoc2025 - Present
Clinical Care
Overview
Benjamin Y. Lu, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist specializing in thoracic oncology, focusing on the treatment of lung and skin cancers, as well as primary and metastatic brain tumors. Dr. Lu is dedicated to advancing immune therapies, which harness the body's own immune system to combat cancer, particularly in brain tumors. He employs various innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes.
As an instructor in medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Lu conducts research on immune-based treatments for tumors that originate in the brain or spread there. He studies how certain white blood cells, called T cells, respond to cancer in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Lu received his medical training from New York University School of Medicine and completed his residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital. He further specialized with a fellowship in medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center. His contributions to the field have been recognized by prestigious awards such as the Young Investigator Award from the Conquer Cancer Foundation and the Emerging Generation Award from the American Society of Clinical Investigation.
Clinical Specialties
News & Links
Media
Cellular determinants of anti-tumor immunity in human cancers
Physician-scientist Benjamin Lu, MD, PhD, presents on cellular determinants of anti-tumor immunity in human cancers
News
- November 18, 2025
Progress and Hope: Sharing the Latest Advances in Lung Cancer Care
- July 14, 2025
Lu and Aklilu Honored With 2025 Dostanic Award
- May 22, 2025
2025 ASCO Conquer Cancer Grants & Awards Announced
- November 28, 2024
Unexpected Findings in Study of T Cells, Considered Front-line Fighters Against Advanced Melanoma
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Contacts
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