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Darren Yuen

MD, FRCPC, PhD

Scientist

Email: darren.yuen@mail.utoronto.ca
Tel: 416-867-7412

Labs

Darren Yuen Lab ❯

Biography

My lab is interested in understanding novel mechanisms of fibrovascular injury in the kidney, using both cell and animal models of disease, with the goal of using the knowledge gained to develop innovative new therapies for kidney disease. Research projects span the spectrum from basic cell biology to clinical studies, including the investigation of cellular processes underlying fibroblast and endothelial cell behaviour, the testing of potential new treatments in animal models of disease, and the examination of structure-function relationships in patients with kidney disease.

Recent Publications

  1. Yau, K, Kurtesi, A, Qi, F, Delgado-Brand, M, Tursun, TR, Hu, Q et al.. Omicron variant neutralizing antibodies following BNT162b2 BA.4/5 versus mRNA-1273 BA.1 bivalent vaccination in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Nat Commun. 2023;14 (1):6041. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41678-9. PubMed PMID:37758707 PubMed Central PMC10533557.
  2. Luk, CT, Chan, CK, Chiu, F, Shi, SY, Misra, P, Li, YZ et al.. Dual role of caspase 8 in adipocyte apoptosis and metabolic inflammation. Diabetes. 2023; :. doi: 10.2337/db22-1033. PubMed PMID:37699387 .
  3. Nangaku, M, Kitching, AR, Boor, P, Fornoni, A, Floege, J, Coates, PT et al.. International Society of Nephrology first consensus guidance for preclinical animal studies in translational nephrology. Kidney Int. 2023;104 (1):36-45. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.03.007. PubMed PMID:37001557 .
  4. McEvoy, CM, Hu, Q, Abe, KT, Yau, K, Oliver, MJ, Levin, A et al.. Humoral Responses in the Omicron Era Following 3-Dose SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Series in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Transplant Direct. 2023;9 (1):e1401. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001401. PubMed PMID:36518793 PubMed Central PMC9742098.
  5. Han, DJ, Aslam, R, Misra, PS, Chiu, F, Ojha, T, Chowdhury, A et al.. Disruption of adipocyte YAP improves glucose homeostasis in mice and decreases adipose tissue fibrosis. Mol Metab. 2022;66 :101594. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101594. PubMed PMID:36165813 PubMed Central PMC9551211.
  6. Shatil, AS, Kirpalani, A, Younus, E, Tyrrell, PN, Krizova, A, Yuen, DA et al.. Magnetic Resonance Elastography-derived Stiffness Predicts Renal Function Loss and Is Associated With Microvascular Inflammation in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Transplant Direct. 2022;8 (6):e1334. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001334. PubMed PMID:35721457 PubMed Central PMC9197345.
  7. Zhang, T, He, X, Caldwell, L, Goru, SK, Ulloa Severino, L, Tolosa, MF et al.. NUAK1 promotes organ fibrosis via YAP and TGF-β/SMAD signaling. Sci Transl Med. 2022;14 (637):eaaz4028. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz4028. PubMed PMID:35320001 .
  8. McEvoy, CM, Lee, A, Misra, PS, Lebovic, G, Wald, R, Yuen, DA et al.. Real-world Impact of 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients. Transplantation. 2022;106 (5):e279-e280. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004081. PubMed PMID:35220385 PubMed Central PMC9038233.
  9. He, X, Tolosa, MF, Zhang, T, Goru, SK, Ulloa Severino, L, Misra, PS et al.. Myofibroblast YAP/TAZ activation is a key step in organ fibrogenesis. JCI Insight. 2022;7 (4):. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.146243. PubMed PMID:35191398 PubMed Central PMC8876427.
  10. Chen, A, Ulloa Severino, L, Panagiotou, TC, Moraes, TF, Yuen, DA, Lavoie, BD et al.. Inhibition of polar actin assembly by astral microtubules is required for cytokinesis. Nat Commun. 2021;12 (1):2409. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22677-0. PubMed PMID:33893302 PubMed Central PMC8065111.
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Affiliations & Other Activities

  • Staff Physician, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital
  • Assistant Professor, Medicine, University of Toronto