Assistant Professor, Physiology

Milton E. Cassel Scholar

B.S., University of Hong Kong

Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

Most brain blood vessels are sealed by a tight barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances circulating in the blood. However, this barrier also limits the passage of many potential medicines, making it difficult to treat neurological diseases. Not all brain regions follow this rule, however. A handful of specialized areas lack this conventional barrier because they need to sense chemical signals from the body and release hormones into the bloodstream to regulate vital functions. The walls of blood vessels in these regions contain unique molecular structures that allow selective exchange between blood and brain tissues. Yet, despite their importance, the molecular identity and working principles of these structures remain poorly understood. Wendy Yue’s lab at UCSF aims to determine what these structures are made of and what governs their selectivity, knowledge that could guide the rational design of drugs capable of reaching the brain.