Welcome to Andrew Yoo’s lab at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
We study the role of microRNAs and chromatin remodeling complexes in neurogenesis and devise cellular reprogramming approaches to generate human neurons by directly converting skin fibroblasts to neurons. Our goal is to model adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders with patient-derived neurons and study how aging of human neurons contributes to the vulnerability to neurodegeneration.
Directly reprogrammed neurons (miNs) show neuronal morphology (Tuj), dendritic and axonal markers (Map2 and Total Tau, respectively), neuronal adhesion molecules (NCAM1), and synaptic transporters (Vglut1). Insets show starting fibroblasts. Image courtesy of L. Capano. 
Extracellular Aβ deposition in 3D directly reprogrammed cortical neuron model of Alzheimer’s Disease. Image courtesy of Z. Sun. 
Representative images of directly reprogrammed medium spiny neurons (MSNs) from healthy control young control (Young Ctrl-MSNs), old control (Old Ctrl-MSNs), young pre-symptomatic Huntington’s Disease (HD) patients (Pre-HD-MSNs), and post-symptomatic HD patients (Post-HD-MSNs). Image courtesy of Y. Oh.
Yoo Lab News
Dave awarded McDonnell Center Small Grant for 2023!
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Dave for being awarded a 2023 McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Small Grants! He work will focus on age-associated mitochondrial differences in response to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, a major cause of morbidity in adults.
Kitra selected to receive F31 funding!
Graduate student Kitra Cates has been selected to be a recipient of an F31! This prestigious award will fund Kitra’s work through the rest of her Ph.D. training. Congratulations!
Shivani awarded Viktor Hamburger Prize
Graduate student Shivani was awarded the Viktor Hamburger Prize for Outstanding Student Presentation at the Joint Retreat of the Developmental, Regenerative & Stem Cell Biology Program, the Department of Developmental Biology, and the Center of Regenerative Medicine. Congratulations, Shivani!
Lucia awarded O’Leary Prize in Neuroscience
Yesterday, graduate student Lucia was awarded the O’Leary Prize in Neuroscience research for her work on tau isoform expression in directly reprogrammed neurons. The O’Leary Prize is awarded for the most original and impactful neuroscience research in the Washington University in Saint Louis neuroscience community. Congratulations, Lucia!
Kitra awarded Olin Fellowship
Congratulations to Yoo Lab graduate student Kitra Cates who was named a Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Medical Science Fellow for 2022! The Olin Fellowships recognize superior accomplishments in biomedical research by doctoral students at Washington University.