Dr. Jim C. Hu

At Weill Cornell Medicine’s urology program, Jim C. Hu, MD, directs a seamlessly coordinated effort that begins well before a patient steps into clinic. To ensure every aspect of care is aligned, he convenes urologic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, social‐work specialists, and nurse navigators to review multiparametric MRI studies, PSMA‐PET imaging, germline and somatic genomic profiling, cardiometabolic assessments, and each person’s life priorities. During that same planning session, schedulers reserve robotic‐assisted operating suites, anesthesia and perioperative medicine consultations, fertility‐preservation evaluations, and supportive‐care appointments such as nutrition and physical therapy, while financial counselors secure authorizations and discuss cost‐sharing options to prevent last‐minute delays. When Dr. Hu finally meets the patient, he translates technical findings—such as extracapsular extension, nephron‐sparing resection, and oligometastatic radioligand therapy—into clear, understandable explanations and provides a printed roadmap that outlines every step from diagnosis through follow‐up care. That same plan is uploaded to the secure patient portal so every clinician on the team accesses identical guidance, eliminating conflicting instructions and reducing patient anxiety. Follow‐up telemedicine check‐ins tied to specific laboratory tests and imaging milestones keep individuals who live far from New York connected without disruptive travel. By integrating diagnostics, treatment planning, and supportive services into one unified workflow, Dr. Hu shortens time to definitive therapy, prevents duplicate testing, and offers patients the confidence of a cohesive team dedicated to both cancer control and quality of life. 

 

Dr. Hu’s translational research program bridges laboratory discovery and patient application, focusing on mechanisms of resistance and precision targeting in urologic cancers. His laboratory investigates how androgen‐receptor splice variants contribute to castration‐resistant prostate cancer and explores MET gene amplification alongside alterations in mTOR signaling in renal cell carcinoma. A flagship clinical trial evaluates actinium‐225–labeled PSMA antibodies in patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer harboring DNA‐repair deficiencies, using serial circulating‐tumor‐cell counts and 68Ga‐PSMA PET imaging as early indicators of response. Concurrent studies pair quantitative radiomics from imaging with gene‐expression profiles from image‐guided biopsies to capture tumor heterogeneity in small renal masses, accelerating hypothesis generation and validation. Blood, urine, and tissue specimens collected at each patient visit feed a living biobank that correlates genomic alterations with clinical outcomes, allowing therapeutic plans to adjust in near real time. Early data reveal that high PSMA expression on PET imaging correlates with favorable responses to targeted radioimmunotherapy, insight now incorporated into consent discussions to align expectations and reduce ineffective exposure. By weaving translational insight directly into routine clinical encounters, Dr. Hu tailors therapy to evolving tumor biology, ensuring each patient receives a regimen most likely to yield durable control while preserving function and quality of life. 

 

Beyond the laboratory and clinic, Dr. Hu is deeply committed to education and community outreach that extends expertise beyond institutional walls. As Director of Education for the Department of Urology, he mentors residents and fellows through interactive, case‐based conferences that emphasize critical appraisal of emerging clinical trials alongside compassionate patient communication. He co‐authors national guidelines on robotic‐assisted prostatectomy and nephron‐sparing surgery, balancing oncologic efficacy with functional preservation. Public webinars—captioned and translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic—explain topics such as MRI‐targeted biopsy, focal therapy options for low‐risk prostate cancer, and perioperative management of kidney tumors. These sessions remain freely accessible via the patient portal, allowing families to revisit key information at their convenience. Dr. Hu also co‐founded a teleconsultation platform that enables community urologists and oncologists to upload imaging and pathology slides for same‐day expert feedback, reducing the travel burden for patients in rural or underserved areas. Within Weill Cornell, he championed a patient‐reported outcome dashboard that alerts nurses to rising pain scores, urinary incontinence episodes, or mood changes between visits, prompting timely interventions that sustain quality of life. Through these initiatives, Dr. Hu transforms advanced surgical and molecular knowledge into practical tools, empowering patients and caregivers to engage confidently in decisions that shape their treatment journey.