Canada Research Chair in Computational Approaches to Health Research (Tier 2)

Associate Professor 

Department of Biochemistry

Department of Computer Science

Dept. of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences  

Department of  Epidemiology and Biostatistics 

Department of Oncology

Western University

Associate Professor (Status-Only)
Division of Biostatistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

Mentor of AI4PH (Artificial Intelligence for Public Health)

National Health Research Training Platform

Member of Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM)
Temerty Faculty of Medicine,  University of Toronto

Adjunct Professor

Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics (BMG),
Department of Computer Science (CS) 

University of Manitoba

Co-Chair, Education Committee

International Genetic Epidemiology Society

Chair, Student Research Presentation Award Committee

Statistical Society of Canada

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The Hu lab focuses on developing and applying machine leaning and statistical techniques for integrative analysis of multimodal health data (omics data, imaging data, administrative and electronic medical records) for precision medicine. Dr. Hu's research program builds the bridges between artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning, statistics and multimodal health data (mainly omics data). His research is performed in an independent, multidisciplinary and collaborative team framework where his expertise in AI, statistical genetics and bioinformatics complements that of his collaborators.

Dr. Hu is an

• Academic Editor 

             Plos Computational Biology

• Associate Editor

             Annals of Medicine

•  Associate Editor

              Computational and Structural 

              Biotechnology Journal (CSBJ)

•  Associate Editor   

              Frontiers in Genetics

Dr. Hu has received below prestigious awards since he became an independent investigator:  

• Science Meets Parliament Delegate (2024), Canadian Science Policy Centre and the office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada 
• Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (2022), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association (UMGSA) Teaching Award (2021) 
• Ed Kroeger Mentorship Award (2021), University of Manitoba.  
• The Manitoba Medical Services Foundation Allen Rouse Basic Science Career Scientist Award (2020-2023), Manitoba Medical Services Foundation.
• The Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award (Interdisciplinary Category, 2020), The Memorial Rh Institute Foundation.  
• The Interstellar Initiative Award (2018), The New York Academy of Sciences and Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.
• Careers in Cancer Research Development Program New Principal Investigator Award (2015), CIHR-CCSRI.

Find out more about our core research areas and projects.

Check Our Research

For the latest news and updates about our lab check the recent news

Check Latest News

If you are interested in joining our lab please check the open positions available and necessary eligibility requirements.

Check Open Positions

Selected Grants

2023 Oct – 2028 Sep: A deep-learning approach to identify inhibitors of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. CIHR, 2023 Spring Project Grants, Nominated Principal Investigator

2021 Apr – 2026 Mar: Flexible and robust deep learning models for integrative analysis of single cell RNA sequencing data. Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Individual Discovery Grants, Nominated Principal Investigator

2025 Apr – 2027 Mar: Predicting Risks for Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Generative Artificial Intelligence. CIHR - Catalyst Grant: Analysis of CLSA Data, Nominated Principal Investigator

2024 Jan – 2025 Dec: Developing an artificial intelligence-based online tool for automatic joint detection and scoring of radiographic joint damage among patients with Rheumatoid arthritis using continual learning. Arthritis Society Canada, Ignite Innovation Grants, Nominated Principal Investigator

2023 Feb – 2025 Jan: Artificial intelligence-empowered approach towards the development of combination therapies for HER2+/ER+ breast cancer. CIHR, 2022 Fall Project Grants (Priority Grant), Nominated Principal Investigator

Western Bioinformatics Research Seminar Series