Haung Yu, PhD

Associate Professor | University of Toronto | Pharmacology and Toxicology

Dr. Haung (Ho) Yu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto (U of T). Ho received his PhD from the U of T in Pharmacology and continued research at Nathan Kline Institute, New York University on a Canadian Institutes of Health Research postdoctoral fellowship where he identified defects in the autophagic-lysosomal system and relationship to Alzheimer’s disease. He then established his lab at Columbia University to examine protein clearance mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and tauopathies. His research focused on identifying defects in protein quality control and design small molecule therapies to reverse this process, with one program becoming a biotech company. His work has been internationally funded and serves as a member and advisor of several international Foundations and journals. He is also very active in knowledge translation, including disseminating research on brain health to the community, especially for older adults and under-represented groups. Dr. Yu continues to examine the mechanisms of pathology in neurodegeneration and depression. His lab uses animal and cell models to better understand how risk factors may impact molecular changes that happen during disease onset and progression to identify biological targets for treatment and diagnosis. This work also examines risks that are seen in higher prevalence in under-represented groups to ensure equity in research. Dr. Yu is part of a US and Canada study called Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease, which focuses on risk factors (genetics, lifestyle and biofluid biomarkers) for Alzheimer’s in East Asian populations, an under-represented population in research and care. This research is the first-of-its-kind and runs across North America. Dr. Yu is the Director of the Toronto site, the Biomarker Core and co-Director of Education and Outreach. The latter involves community education programs for all groups to ensure knowledge mobilization for everyone.