
Andrew Yoo, PhD
Associate Professor of Developmental Biology
Generation of human neurons by microRNA-mediated direct somatic reprogramming and disease modeling Read More
Email: | yooa@wustl.edu |
Lab Phone: | (314) 362-1814 |
Website: | Yoo Lab |
Lab Location: | Cancer Research 3600 |
Keywords: | microRNAs, direct neuronal reprogramming, human neurons, chromatin remodeling, disease modeling, neurodegeneration |
Generation of human neurons by microRNA-mediated direct somatic reprogramming and disease modeling

Examples of human neurons directly converted (reprogrammed) from adult fibroblasts.
We are interested in molecular mechanisms that govern neurogenesis and develop cellular reprogramming methods to generate specific subtypes of human neurons by directly converting fibroblasts. Our work centers around two brain-enriched microRNAs (miR-9/9* and miR-124) that target components of chromatin remodeling complexes and influence chromatin landscape. The microRNA-mediated reprogramming propagates the epigenetic cellular age stored in starting adult fibroblasts. By deriving specific neuronal subtypes by the microRNA-induced neuronal state with region-specific transcription factors, we seek to develop patient-neuron platforms of various adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and primary tauopathy.
Updated March 2021
Hope Center Affiliations
- HPAN
- NeuroRestorative Therapy
- Clocks & Sleep Club
- Co-organizer, 2018/2019 "Modeling Neurological Disorders Using Stem Cell-based Approaches" mini-series
- Organizer, 2017/2018 "Neuronal Aging and Proteostasis" mini-series
- Co-organizer, 2016/2017 "Neural Development, Plasticity, and Repair" mini-series
- Co-organizer, 2015/2016 "Transcriptional and epigenetic control of neural development"mini-series
- Co-organizer, 2014/2015 "Molecular Mechanisms of Neural Circuit Assembly and Plasticity" mini-series