Dr. Yu's research interests include antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, community-acquired pneumonia, and ENT infections. However, his research group is best known for their contributions to the microbiology, epidemiology, and disinfection strategies regarding Legionnaires' disease. He has published 300 peer review publications, 60 book chapters, and 2 textbooks.

He has accepted over 200 invited lectureships and has accepted over 100 visiting professorships to major universities throughout the world. He has mentored 30 graduate students in engineering, microbiology, pharmacology as well as 13 infectious disease fellows and numerous other physician-academicians in the areas of ophthalmology, otolaryngology, general internal medicine and medical informatics. 95% of his students and fellows remain active in academic medicine and research.