Prof. Jane Wu, an esteemed member of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, found herself on an arduous path as she prepared to submit her first National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant application in years.
Having received approval from the university’s administrators in early May 2024, Wu faced a harsh setback just days later when the medical school officials decided to shut down her entire lab around the same time.
This abrupt action rendered Wu’s chances of continuing her funded research nearly impossible, as stated in a legal complaint filed against Northwestern by her family in June 2025 — nearly a year after her untimely death.
Prof. John Kessler, a colleague and a former chair of the medical school’s neurology department, reflected on Wu’s struggles, highlighting the tragic narrative of an exceptional scientist caught in a web of political tensions between the United States and China.
The troubles Wu faced were not limited to the closure of her lab. From 2019 to 2023, Wu was subjected to an investigation by the NIH, prompted by her professional ties to China.
The complaint indicates that Northwestern, under the NIH’s influence, enacted measures that acted to hinder Wu’s research activities during this time.
By the time the NIH concluded its investigation, Wu had already experienced significant setbacks, including the loss of vital resources and personnel necessary for her research.
In a sequence of events that worsened her situation, officials at Northwestern University revoked her remaining lab space in May 2024, leading her family to claim in the legal filing that the university discriminated against Wu based on her national origin, gender, and disability status.
Many academics have noted how Wu’s ordeal has fostered a “chilling effect” within the university’s academic community, contributing to a climate of fear among students and faculty who might be discouraged from pursuing research, particularly those with connections to China.
Thomas Geoghegan, the attorney representing Wu’s estate, expressed that Wu’s rights had been violated, and emphasized their intent to seek justice for her.
Wu’s daughter, Elizabeth Rao, lamented the injustice faced by her mother, declaring, “My mom’s death is a tragic loss for our family, for the Asian American community, and for American science.”
Born in Anhui, China, Wu graduated from Shanghai Medical University in 1986 and moved to the United States the same year to pursue a Ph.D. in cancer biology at Stanford University.
By May 1991, Wu had completed her dissertation on the molecular biology of Hepatitis B, marking the beginning of her notable academic journey.
As her career progressed, Wu focused on balancing her work with her family life, ensuring she and her children experienced what Elizabeth referred to as a “quintessential American childhood.”
Throughout her academic ascent, Wu remained dedicated to her research, even as challenges mounted.
After her doctoral studies, she carried out postdoctoral research at Harvard and later joined the faculties of Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt University before her tenure at Northwestern began in 2005.
Among Wu’s noteworthy discoveries was the link between specific genes implicated in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondrial damage.
Her research received more than $10 million in funding from the NIH, underscoring her significant contributions to the field.
Despite many faculty members stepping into administrative roles as they advanced, Wu chose to remain closely engaged with her experimental work.
Prof. Kessler noted her desire to stay connected to the methods of her field, which enriched her theoretical insights.
However, Wu’s collaborations took a turn in 2019 when the NIH initiated a scrutiny focused on researchers with affiliations in China.
Kessler explained that the environment surrounding scientific collaboration had shifted, with government attitudes turning increasingly hostile.
The NIH and Northwestern conducted an extensive investigation into Wu, questioning her compliance regarding disclosures of affiliations.
Wu’s former legal counsel, Peter Zeidenberg, asserted that she did not engage in any wrongdoing.
Nevertheless, the investigation forced Wu into a position of research inactivity, resulting in significant disruptions to her work, even while the university continued her salary.
Dr. Kessler expressed dismay that a prominent researcher like Wu would face such hurdles, stating the discomfort felt by many faculty members of Chinese ancestry during this process.
University President Michael Schill, in an interview conducted in October 2024, was not aware of specific instances of investigations impacting faculty or staff.
During the investigation, Wu’s grants were reassigned to colleagues.
In the wake of the NIH closure, Wu faced further distress as Northwestern began reducing her salary due to her newly labeled “research inactive” status.
This precarious situation escalated when her lab space was partially dismantled in February 2024, causing Wu immense emotional turmoil as her years of work felt threatened.
In a last-ditch effort, Wu set her sights on the NIH’s June grant application deadline, demonstrating her resilience and commitment to her research.
On May 1, 2024, she reached out to her department chair, Prof. Dimitri Krainc, detailing her intent to submit the application.
Following some encouraging feedback, Wu was disheartened when she learned a few days later of the impending closure of her remaining lab space.
Her desperate appeal for an extension to keep her lab open until she could submit her application went unanswered, adding to her despair.
Prof. Kessler noted that decisions surrounding lab space at the university are typically dictated by demand, suggesting that the closure might not have been intended as a personal affront, yet he acknowledged the cruelty of the situation.
As frustration mounted, the university called for help on May 23, 2024, leading to an unsettling response from both the university and city police.
According to the legal complaint, police officers handcuffed Wu, a move that left her with serious bruises and led to her being taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Given the choice of voluntarily admitting herself to a psychiatric center or facing involuntary commitment, Wu opted for the former.
Her stay at the center lasted approximately two weeks, during which she had no access to electronic devices, further straining her mental wellbeing.
Wu left the psychiatric center on June 6, 2024, but her mental state had been deeply affected, resulting in her inability to submit the grant application that she had worked so hard to prepare.
On July 10, 2024, Wu tragically died by suicide at home, at the age of 60.
In the aftermath of her passing, her lab remained vacant for months, and there was no official announcement from the university regarding her death.
Wu’s family and community have faced additional pain not only from her loss but also from the lack of acknowledgment by the institution where she had dedicated her life to research.
Despite the universal practice of not publishing obituaries for faculty who are not considered distinguished, Wu was a scientist whose contributions were significant and transformative.
Kessler noted that Wu had faced numerous adversities in her life, yet her resilience shone through in her dedication to science.
Wu herself had illustrated her indomitable spirit during her dissertation when she recounted the difficulties of her early life, including her parents’ separation due to political issues.
Wu’s dedication to her work was unwavering and stemmed from a deep passion for her field.
Her daughter described her mother as a “resilient” individual, committed to her role as a researcher.
Prof. Margaret Flanagan, one of Wu’s mentees, highlighted Wu’s remarkable ability to balance intense devotion to research with her generosity towards others.
As Wu’s family seeks justice in the wake of their loss, they hope her experience serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of institutional and governmental pressures on dedicated researchers.
The complaints against Northwestern University remain a poignant reminder of the fallout from political tensions and the consequences faced by scientists due to their affiliations.
For those struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, help is available through the 988 National Suicide Hotline.
image source from：dailynorthwestern
