Qing-Bin Lu

Professor; University Research Chair; Undergraduate Advisor - Chemical Physics

Professor Lu’s research programs cross disciplines in physics, chemistry, environment, climate, biology and medicine, particularly focusing on femtomedicine and cancer therapy, as well as the sciences of atmospheric ozone depletion (the ozone hole) and global climate change (“global warming”).

Contact information
Office: PHY 376
Phone: 519 888-4567 ext. 33503
Email: qblu@uwaterloo.ca
Website: http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~qblu/

Expertise

Biophysics and biochemistry (molecular mechanisms of DNA damage and cell death)
Femtochemistry, Femtobiology and Femtomedicine
Cancer Therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy; targeted therapy)
Environmental/atmospheric science (theory of ozone depletion – the ozone hole)
Climate research (theory of global climate change—“global warming”)
Ultrafast laser spectroscopic techniques
Nano-scale and atomic-scale surface science

Research

The advent of femtosecond (1fs=10^-15 s) time-resolved laser spectroscopy made it possible to observe molecular reactions directly (femtochemistry), for which Professor Ahmed Zewail at Caltech (Lu’s former postdoctoral advisor) won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999. Since 2004, Lu has applied this cutting-edge technique to study important biological processes in relation to diseases and their treatments, particularly in the field of oncology. This innovative approach has led to the creation of a brand-new research field, where the femtosecond time-resolved laser spectroscopy was successfully incorporated with molecular biology and cell biology methods to advance our understanding of human diseases and their treatments. Lu coined the term “femtomedicine” (FMD) on his breakthroughs in 2010 [QB Lu, Reviews in Mutation Research 704, 190–199(2010)]. Through his research in FMD, Lu has discovered a novel molecular mechanism of DNA damage and a new family of non-platinum-based halogenated molecules, called FMD compounds. The latter have a unique molecular mechanism of action, generating a destroying effect in the intracellular environment of cancerous cells while having a protective effect on healthy/normal cells. FMD compounds therefore naturally and selectively target and kill cancer cells. They are effective in treating a variety of in vitro cancer cell lines and in vivo animal cancer models while exhibiting no systemic and radiation toxicities toward normal cells/tissues. These findings were recently published in the Cell Press and Lancet’s EBioMedicine, and in AACR’s Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. Lu is now translating findings arising from fundamental FMD studies into cancer therapies in the clinic. The success will lead to novel targeted chemotherapies and radiotherapies with minimal side effects and better targeting to treat a variety of cancers.

Lu also made important discoveries for the sciences underlying ozone depletion and global climate change. His theories have fundamentally challenged the previous “conclusions” by the Novel Prize winners in the formation of the ozone hole and global warming (1995 Nobel Chemistry and 2007 Novel Peace awards) and provided the best predictions that agree with up-to-date observations. His pioneering contributions were summarized in his monographic book entitled New Theories and Predictions of the Ozone Hole and Climate Change published recently by World Scientific Inc. (New Jersey, London, Singapore, Beijing, etc., 2015) pp.1-308.

Teaching

PHYS 359, Statistical Mechanics
PHYS 395, Biophysics of Therapeutic Methods
PHYS 234, Quantum Mechanics (I)
PHYS 771, Special Topics in Biophysics

Highlighted Publications

Lu, Q.B. and Sanche, L. Effects of Cosmic Rays on Atmospheric Chlorofluorocarbon Dissociation and Ozone Depletion. Phys. Rev. Lett. (87) 7, pp. 078501(1)-078501(4).

Wang, C.R., Nguyen, J. and Lu, Q.B. Bond Breaks of Nucleotides by Dissociative Electron Transfer of Nonequilibrium Prehydrated Electrons: A New Molecular Mechanism for Reductive DNA Damage. J. Am. Chem. Soc. (131) 32, pp. 11320-11322.

Lu, Q.B. Cosmic-Ray-Driven Electron-Induced Reactions of Halogenated Molecules Adsorbed on Ice Surfaces: Implications for Atmospheric Ozone Depletion and Global Climate Change. Physics Reports (2010) 487, pp. 141-167.

Lu, Q.B., Zhang, Q.R., Ou, N., Wang, C.R. and Warrington, J. In vitro and in vivo Studies of Non-Platinum-Based Halogenated Compounds as a New Class of Potent Antitumor Agents for Natural Targeted Chemotherapy of Cancers. EBioMedicine (2015) 2, pp. 544-553.

Wang, C.R., Mahmood, J., Zhang, Q.R., Vedadi, A., Warrington, J., Ou, N., Bristow, R.G., Jaffray, D.A., and Lu, Q.B., In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of a New Class of Anticancer Molecules for Targeted Radiotherapy of Cancer. Mol. Cancer Ther. (2016) 15, pp. 640-650.

Please see Google Scholar for a complete list of Professor Lu's publications.

Awards and Distinctions

2014 to present, University Research Chair, University of Waterloo
2008-2013, New Investigator Award, Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
2007-2012, Early Researcher Award, Ontario's Ministry of Research and Innovation
2001-2006, Senior Research Fellowship (Phases I & II), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)

University of Waterloo Affiliations

Cross appointment, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo
Cross appointment, Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo

Professional Associations and Service

2012-present Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Peer Review Committee, member
2008-present Member of the College of Reviewers for Canada Research Chairs program
2012-2013 Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Peer Review Committee, member
2012-2013 Terry Fox New Frontiers Program in Cancer, Peer Review Committee, member for Team Grant