Andrew S. Yoo, PhD

2024 Dean’s Impact Award Recipient

Upon joining the faculty in 2011, Andrew S. Yoo, PhD, established a vibrant research laboratory filled with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, physician scientists and staff scientists. With his team, Yoo pioneered using microRNAs as cellular reprogramming effectors to convert human fibroblasts directly to neurons. They implemented directly reprogrammed neurons from patients as the first accurate cellular models of late-onset neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathy. These groundbreaking scientific advances result from the truly collaborative effort of his lab members. His lab has a collaborative, relaxed but intellectually stimulating atmosphere of mutual respect that provides an outstanding research and training environment. Lab members pursue individual projects and collaborations, learning both independence and team science. Having high expectations, Yoo provides personalized guidance, freedom and resources for his trainees to meet those expectations. Out of 12 annual Developmental Biology Irving Boime Publication Awards, four went to Yoo’s graduate students. His PhD alumni have moved on to postdoctoral fellowships and tenured faculty positions at prestigious institutions. Moreover, Yoo has made many important contributions to his department’s teaching mission: lecturing, mentoring faculty colleagues and serving as a co-chair of qualifying exams for the Neuroscience Program. Since 2021, he has served as an exemplary co-director of the Developmental, Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology PhD Program, extending his mentoring to graduate students through the challenging pandemic and post-pandemic times.