Research Interests:

Endoplasmic reticulum dynamics in local cellular responses (protein synthesis, signaling, and cytoskeleton rearrangements) to extra-cellular mechanical and chemical cues.

Precision complex tissue-engineering with micro- and nano-featured environments.

Academic Background:

HFSP Fellow, Cell Biology, EMBL, 1995-1997

Ph.D., Cell Biology, Duke Univ., 1994

M.Sc., Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Washington Univ. - St. Louis, 1990

B.Sc., (Hon) Biochemistry, Michigan State Univ., 1987

Selected Publications:

Du, Y.N., Han, R.B., Ng, S.S., Ni, J., Sun, W.X., Wohland, T., Ong, S.H., Kuleshova, L., Yu, H. (2007) Identification and characterization of a novel pre-spheroid hepatocyte monolayer. Tissue Engineering, in press

Khong, Y.M., Chang, S., Samper, V.D., Tang, H.H., Yu, H. (2007) A novel intra-tissue perfusion culture of thick liver slices. Tissue Engineering, 13(9)

Ong, S.M., He, L., Linh, N.T.T., Tee, Y.H., Arooz, T., Tang, G.P., Tan, C.H., Yu, H. (2007) Transient Inter-Cellular Polymeric Linker. Biomaterials, 28; 3656-3667

Kim, L., Toh, Y.C., Voldman, J., Yu, H., A practical guide to microfluidic perfusion culture of adherent mammalian cells. Lab on a Chip, 2007, 7, 681 - 694

Pan, X., Yu, H., X, Shi, Korzh, V., Wohland, T. (2007) Characterization of flow direction in microchannel and zebrafish blood vessels by scanning fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Journal of Biomedical Optics, 12 (1): 014034

Toh,Y.C., Zhang, C., Zhang, J., Khong, Y.M., Chang,S., Samper. V.D. Hutmacher, D.W., Yu, H. (cover March issue 2007) A novel 3D mammalian-cell perfusion-culture system in micro-fluidic channels. Lab on a Chip, 7:302-309

Ong, L.L, Lin, P.C, Zhang, X, Chia, S.M., Yu, H. (2006) Kinectin-dependent assembly of translation elongation factor-1 complex on endoplasmic reticulum regulates protein synthesis, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 281(44):33621-34

Toh, Y.C., Ng, S.S.S., Khong, Y.M., Zhang, X., Zhu,Y.J. Lin,P.C., Ten, C.M., Sun, W.X., Yu, H. (2006) Cellular responses to a nanofibrous environment. Nano Today, (3):34-43

Ng, S.S.S., Han, R.B., Ni, J., Chang, S., Hunziker, W., Goryachev, A.B., Ong, S.H., Yu, H. (2006) Improved hepatocyte excretory function by immediate presentation of polarity cues. Tissue Engineering, (8):2181-91

Du, Y.N., Chia, S.M., Yu, H. (2006) 3D Hepatocyte monolayer on hybrid RGD/Galactose substratum. Biomaterials, (33):5669-80

Lin, P.C., Cheng, P.C., Yu, H. (2005) An engineered microenvironment for multi-dimensional microscopy of live cells. Scanning, 27(6):284-92.

Chia, S.M., Lin, P.C., Quek, C.H., Yin, C., Mao, H.Q., Leong, K.W., Xu, X., Goh, C.H., Ng, M.L., Yu, H. (2005) Engineering microenvironment for expansion of sensitive anchorage-dependent mammalian cells. Journal of Biotechnology, 118(4):434-47

Toh, Y.C., Ng, S.S.S., Khong, Y.M., Samper, V., Yu, H. (2005) A configurable 3D microenvironment in a micro-fluidic channel for primary hepatocytes culture. Assay and Drug Development Technologies, 3(2), 169-76

Chia, S.M., Lin, P.C., Yu, H. (2005 March 05) TGF-beta1 is Important for the enhanced hepatocyte functions in hepatocyte- NIH3T3 co-culture. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 89(5): 565-73

Toh, Y.C., Ho, S.T., Zhou, Y., Hutmacher, D.W., Yu, H. (2005) Application of a polyelectrolyte complex coacervation method to improve seeding efficiency of bone marrow stromal cells in a 3D culture system. Biomaterials, 26(19): 4149-60

Ng, S.S.S., Wu, Y.N., Zhou, Y., Toh, Y.E., Ho, Z.Z., Chia, S.M., Zhu, J.H., Mao, H.Q., Yu, H. (2005) Optimization of 3-D hepatocyte culture by controlling the physical and chemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices. Biomaterials, 26(16): 3153-63

Zhang, J., Wei, H.P., Quek, C.H., Chia, S.M., Yu, H. (2004) Quantitative measurement of collagen methylation by capillary electrophoresis. Electrophoresis, 251(20): 3416-21

Santama, N., Er, P.N., Ong, L.L., Yu, H. (2004) Kinectin isoforms exhibit developmental, cell-type and organelle specific functions. Journal of Cell Sciences, 117(Pt 19):4537-49

Quek, C.H., Li, J., Sun, T., Chan, M.L.H., Mao, H.Q., Gan, L.M., Leong, K.W., Yu, H. (2004) Photo-crosslinkable microcapsules formed by polyelectrolyte copolymer and modified collagen with enhanced mechanical strength and cellular functions for rat hepatocyte encapsulation. Biomaterials, 25(17):3531-40

Heng, B.C., Yu, H., Ng, S.C. (2004) Strategies for the cryopreservation of microencapsulated cells. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 85(2):202-213

Ong, L.L., Er, P.N., Ho, A., Aung H.T., Yu, H. (2003) Kinectin anchors The translation elongation factor-1Delta to the endoplasmic reticulum. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(34):32115-32123

Chia, S.M., Wan, C.A.A., Quek, C.H., Chan, M.L.H., Mao, H., Xu, X., Lu, S., Ng, M.L., Leong, K.W., Yu, H. (2002) Multi-layered microcapsules for cell encapsulation. Biomaterials, 23(3):849-856

Ong, L.L., Lim, P.C., Er, P.N., Yu, H. (2000) Kinectin-Kinesin binding domains and their effects on organelle motility. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 275(42):32854-60

Chia, S.M., Leong, K.W., Li, J., Xu, X., Zeng, K.Y., Er, P.N., Gao, S.J., Yu, H. (2000) Hepatocyte encapsulation for enhanced cellular functions. Tissue Engineering, 6(5): 481-95

Kumar, J., Yu, H. and Sheetz, M.P. (1995) Kinectin, an essential anchor for kinesin-driven vesicle motility. Science, 267(5205):1834-1837

Yu, H., Nicchitta, C.V., Kumar, J., Toyoshima, I. and Sheetz, M.P. (1995) Characterization of kinectin, a kinesin binding protein: primary sequence and N-terminal topogenic signal analysis. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6(2):171-183

Toyoshima, I., Yu, H., Steuer, E.R. and Sheetz, M.P. (1992) Kinectin, a major kinesin-binding protein on ER. Journal of Cell Biology, 118(5):1121-31

Yu, H., Toyoshima, I., Sterner, E.R. and Sheetz, M.P. (1992) Kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein binding to brain microsomes. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 267, no. 28, 20457-20464.