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Hire Dr. Benjamin Y.

United States

Physician-Scientist | Software/Biotech Founder | AI-Driven Drug Discovery & Translational Medicine

Profile Summary

Physician-scientist and healthtech founder with deep experience spanning drug discovery, translational biology, AI/LLM-enabled discovery platforms, and clinical/regulatory strategy. I work at the intersection of computational biology, experimental validation, and commercialization, helping teams move from target hypothesis to de-risked assets. My work includes small-molecule discovery for neurodegenerative diseases, autophagy modulation, structure–activity optimization, ADMET prediction, and biomarker development, alongside clinical strategy, CMS/Medicare alignment, and human-in-the-loop AI systems for healthcare delivery. I have led and advised projects from pre-seed concept through IND-enabling work, partnerships, and exits. I am particularly effective in early-stage ambiguity: target selection, mechanism validation, molecule prioritization, platform architecture, and investor-ready narratives grounded in real biology.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Gene Regulation
• ☆ Stem Cell Research
• ☆ Primary Cells
• ☆ Cell Line Engineering
• ☆ Cytometry
• ☆ Cell Aging
• ☆ Dermatology

Services

• Research
• Consulting

Research Technology Scouting

Consulting Go-to-Market Strategy Consulting, Digital Strategy Consulting, Healthcare Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Work Experience

FACULTY

UCSD extension

January 2006 - January 2014

Education

MD, PHD

Washington University School of Medicine

January 1991 - January 1998

Certifications

• none

  None

  January 2026 - Present

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Aoidi R, Houde N, Landry-Truchon K, Holter M, Jacquet K, Charron L, Krishnaswami SR, Yu BD, Rauen KA, Bisson N, et al. (2018). <i>Mek1</i>^Y130C mice recapitulate aspects of human cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome . Disease models & mechanisms.

Bochner R, Samuelov L, Sarig O, Li Q, Adase CA, Isakov O, Malchin N, Vodo D, Shayevitch R, Peled A, et al. (2016). Calpain 12 Function Revealed through the Study of an Atypical Case of Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis . The Journal of investigative dermatology.

Krishnaswami SR, Kumar S, Ordoukhanian P, Yu BD (2014). Fate and plasticity of the epidermis in response to congenital activation of BRAF . The Journal of investigative dermatology.

Borkowski AW, Kuo IH, Bernard JJ, Yoshida T, Williams MR, Hung NJ, Yu BD, Beck LA, Gallo RL (2014). Toll-like receptor 3 activation is required for normal skin barrier repair following UV damage . The Journal of investigative dermatology.

Yoshioka N, Gros E, Li HR, Kumar S, Deacon DC, Maron C, Muotri AR, Chi NC, Fu XD, Yu BD, et al. (2013). Efficient generation of human iPSCs by a synthetic self-replicative RNA . Cell stem cell.

Mukhopadhyay A, Krishnaswami SR, Cowing-Zitron C, Hung NJ, Reilly-Rhoten H, Burns J, Yu BD (2012). Negative regulation of Shh levels by Kras and Fgfr2 during hair follicle development . Developmental biology.

Bernard JJ, Cowing-Zitron C, Nakatsuji T, Muehleisen B, Muto J, Borkowski AW, Martinez L, Greidinger EL, Yu BD, Gallo RL (2012). Ultraviolet radiation damages self noncoding RNA and is detected by TLR3 . Nature medicine.

Hamilton BA, Yu BD (2012). Modifier genes and the plasticity of genetic networks in mice . PLoS genetics.

Lefkowitz GK, Mukhopadhyay A, Cowing-Zitron C, Yu BD (2011). The post-apoptotic fate of RNAs identified through high-throughput sequencing of human hair . PloS one.

Mukhopadhyay A, Krishnaswami SR, Yu BD (2010). Activated Kras alters epidermal homeostasis of mouse skin, resulting in redundant skin and defective hair cycling . The Journal of investigative dermatology.

Kabigting FD, Kempiak SJ, Alexandrescu DT, Yu BD (2009). Sea urchin granuloma secondary to Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Strongylocentrotus franciscanus. Dermatology online journal.

Yu BD, Mukhopadhyay A, Wong C (2008). Skin and hair: models for exploring organ regeneration . Human molecular genetics.

Klein OD, Minowada G, Peterkova R, Kangas A, Yu BD, Lesot H, Peterka M, Jernvall J, Martin GR (2006). Sprouty genes control diastema tooth development via bidirectional antagonism of epithelial-mesenchymal FGF signaling . Developmental cell.

Brown D, Yu BD, Joza N, B&#233;nit P, Meneses J, Firpo M, Rustin P, Penninger JM, Martin GR (2006). Loss of Aif function causes cell death in the mouse embryo, but the temporal progression of patterning is normal . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Yu BD, Becker-Hapak M, Snyder EL, Vooijs M, Denicourt C, Dowdy SF (2003). Distinct and nonoverlapping roles for pRB and cyclin D:cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 activity in melanocyte survival . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Hanson RD, Hess JL, Yu BD, Ernst P, van Lohuizen M, Berns A, van der Lugt NM, Shashikant CS, Ruddle FH, Seto M, et al. (1999). Mammalian Trithorax and polycomb-group homologues are antagonistic regulators of homeotic development . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Yu BD, Hanson RD, Hess JL, Horning SE, Korsmeyer SJ (1998). MLL, a mammalian trithorax-group gene, functions as a transcriptional maintenance factor in morphogenesis . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Hess JL, Yu BD, Li B, Hanson R, Korsmeyer SJ (1997). Defects in yolk sac hematopoiesis in Mll-null embryos. Blood.

Yu BD, Hess JL, Horning SE, Brown GA, Korsmeyer SJ (1995). Altered Hox expression and segmental identity in Mll-mutant mice . Nature.