Dr. Jane Wu was a pioneering Chinese American neuroscientist who died by suicide on July 10, 2024, after Northwestern University abruptly shut down her laboratory. Her death sent shockwaves through the academic and research communities, with many connecting the forced closure of her lab to the broader climate of suspicion fostered by policies and programs like the now-defunct China Initiative. Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) condemns the unjust scrutiny of Dr. Jane Wu and countless other Asian American scholars at their places of employment.

The recently filed complaint alleges a harrowing pattern of discrimination and retaliation that ultimately led to Dr. Wu’s death. It outlines racial and gender bias, professional isolation, and coerced psychiatric hospitalization. It reflects a chilling reality that many Asian American scholars face: when scrutiny, suspicion, and isolation replace critical support, the resulting mental health toll can be deadly.

“There are no words to describe the profound loss for Dr. Wu’s family. Dr. Wu was not just a name or a number; she was a wife, a mother, a brilliant scientist, and a beloved mentor who spent four decades of her life in the United States. She should still be leading the cutting-edge research she dedicated her life to and spending time with her family,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “Dr. Wu’s story shows us how the effect of unjust investigations into Chinese American scholars does not just end careers, it can end lives. Universities must be places of community, support, and fairness, not fear and coercion. We urge institutions of higher education to adopt meaningful safeguards, to prioritize mental health, and to reaffirm their commitments to nondiscrimination, justice, and fairness. We stand with Dr. Wu’s family and all those demanding justice and systemic change.”

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