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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. Mitrofanova, A, Fontanella, AM, Molina, J, Zhang, G, Mallela, SK, Severino, LU et al.. The enzyme SMPDL3b in podocytes decouples proteinuria from chronic kidney disease progression in experimental Alport Syndrome. Kidney Int. 2025; :. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2025.04.024. PubMed PMID:40451505 .
  2. Wu, E, Macklin, S, Zhang, Y, Thai, K, Nghiem, L, Di Ciano-Oliveira, C et al.. Induction of proximal tubular proliferation and lengthening in response to sodium glucose linked cotransporter-2 inhibition in experimental rats. J Diabetes Investig. 2025; :. doi: 10.1111/jdi.70043. PubMed PMID:40260754 .
  3. Hysi, E, Baek, J, Koven, A, He, X, Ulloa Severino, L, Wu, Y et al.. A first-in-human study of quantitative ultrasound to assess transplant kidney fibrosis. Nat Med. 2025;31 (3):970-978. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-03417-5. PubMed PMID:40033112 PubMed Central PMC11922760.
  4. McEvoy, CM, Yuen, DA. Not too much, not too little-just the right amount: the story of YAP in the podocyte. Kidney Int. 2024;105 (6):1157-1159. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.02.016. PubMed PMID:38777398 .
  5. Ishikita, A, Karur, GR, Hanneman, K, Yuen, DA, Chaturvedi, RR, Friedberg, MK et al.. Myocardial Extracellular Volume Fraction Varies With Hemodynamic Load and After Pulmonary Valve Replacement in TOF. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. 2024;17 (7):830-832. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2024.02.013. PubMed PMID:38639696 .
  6. 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.
  7. Luk, CT, Chan, CK, Chiu, F, Shi, SY, Misra, PS, Li, YZ et al.. Dual Role of Caspase 8 in Adipocyte Apoptosis and Metabolic Inflammation. Diabetes. 2023;72 (12):1751-1765. doi: 10.2337/db22-1033. PubMed PMID:37699387 .
  8. 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 .
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
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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