Tom F. Lue, MD, ScD (Hon), FACS

Dr. Tom F. Lue is Professor and Vice-Chair of Urology at UCSF. He also is Director of the Knuppe Molecular Urology Laboratory, a recipient of NIH MERIT Award for his translational research in penile physiology and erectile dysfunction. His team discovered the anatomical mechanism of venous compression during penile erection, published the first article implicating TGF beta in the formation of Peyronie’s plaque, and developed the animal models for the study of Peyronie’s disease and stress urinary incontinence. His clinical research "firsts" include authorship of the New England Journal of Medicine paper describing the landmark clinical trial introducing Sildenafil (Viagra®) for erectile dysfunction, and the development of four diagnostic tests for erectile dysfunction: the penile injection and stimulation test, the duplex ultrasound test for penile arterial flow, pharmacologic cavernosography for venous leakage, and the use of duplex ultrasound to diagnose priapism. He also developed seven new surgical procedures for Peyronie’s disease, priapism and erectile dysfunction. He has been the recipient of the American Urological Association's Gold Cystoscope Award and the American Foundation of Urological diseases’ Most Innovative Researcher Award. He Chaired the International Consultation on Sexual Medicine held in Paris in July 2003 serving as lead author of its published proceedings. He was the honorary president of the same meeting in Paris in July, 2009.

Dr. Lue's current basic science research projects involve the development of animal models for research in erectile dysfunction due to hormone deficiency, cavernous nerve injury, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Regarding Peyronie’s disease, he is currently testing the hypothesis that prolonged inflammation/autoimmune reaction is involved in the pathogenesis of Peyronie’s disease. His lab also has 10 years of experience in basic cell biology research of mesenchymal stem cells [MSC]. His lab is one of the first to show evidence that MSCs are vascular stem cells existing in various tissues and paracrine effect may be involved in the action of implanted MSC in addition to cellular differentiation. Using animal models, Dr. Lue also is exploring the feasibility of using adipose tissue derived adult stem cells as a source of stem cells for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, neurogenic impotence and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. The application of MSC in erectile dysfunction is scheduled for clinical trial soon.

Besides being listed in The Best Doctors in America and America’s Top Doctors for many years, he was named one of the 8 top doctors for men by Men’s Health Magazine in 2003. He has published more than 360 peer reviewed articles and more than 100 book chapters. His research team has trained more than 70 postgraduate doctors and most of them are continuing research career in academic institutions in many countries.