Yizhou Yu

MRC Toxicology Unit

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. My research focuses on potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease using cell and fly models in combination with human genetic, biochemical, behavioural and brain imaging data. I recently combined experimental results from flies with insights from human medical records and showed that increasing the bioavailability of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to promote mitochondrial health could reduce pathologies related to Alzheimer's disease. I am now pursuing further research on the toxic effect of amyloid-β and how to reduce its toxicity.

Yizhou's personal website is at https://izu0421.github.io

Using machine learning, I analysed changes in all the metabolites and proteins in animal models and AD patients, and discovered a novel link between one-carbon metabolism (1C) and AD. Combining laboratory and bioinformatic methods, I showed that genes and drugs enhancing 1C protect against AD in patients and animals.

Other 2023 award winners

Mohammed Ibraheem Ahmed

Stephen Ajadi

Adam Barton

Maria Donde

David Hardman

Rosana-Bristena Ionescu

Akaash Kumar

Serena MacMillan

Ismail Sami

Yuqi Sun

Caroline Zellmer

Previous award winners

Find out about the winners awarded in previous years: