Toronto RNA Enthusiasts' Day (TREnD) 2025

Dr. Gene Yeo is an innovative scientist whose work in computational and experimental RNA biology has supported the development of many RNA-centric therapeutic and epidemiological initiatives. Dr. Yeo has a BSc in Chemical Engineering and a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, a Ph.D. in Computational Neuroscience from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the UCSD Rady School of Management. Dr. Yeo is a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), Chair of the Steering Committee of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM), Scientific Director of the SCRM Genomics Core, and Chief Scientific Advisor of the Sanford Laboratories for Innovative Medicines.

Dr. Yeo’s research primarily focuses on the functional roles of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and how their dysregulation within RNA binding networks, and with respect to localization and targeting can lead to developmental and neurodegenerative diseases. His team employs and develops multidisciplinary methods that combine machine learning with biochemistry, molecular biology, genomics, chemistry, and materials science to allow for large-scale, systematic research. His lab developed enhanced CLIP for large-scale mapping of protein-RNA interactions (Van Nostrand et al., Nature Methods, 2016), demonstrated in vivo RNA targeting with CRISPR/Cas proteins (Nelles et al., Cell, 2016), helped generate the world’s largest resource of RBP-specific antibodies and RBP RNA binding sites (Van Nostrand et al., Nature, 2020), in addition to STAMP technology which helps identify RBP binding sites in single-cell transcriptomes (Brannan et al., Nature Methods, 2021).

​He has significantly influenced clinical research through his pioneering work in RNA biology through advanced technologies such as enhanced CLIP and STAMP. These methods have facilitated large-scale mapping of protein-RNA interactions and enabled transcriptome-wide identification of RNA binding protein sites at single-cell resolution. These innovations have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of RNA processing in development and disease, leading to clinical programs aimed at developing therapies for RNA-related diseases. ​Dr. Yeo's entrepreneurial endeavors have further extended the impact of his research. He is a co-founder of several biotech companies, including Locanabio, Eclipse Bioinnovations, Enzerna, Proteona, Trotana, and Circ Bio. These companies focus on translating RNA biology discoveries into therapeutic applications, bridging the gap between academic research and clinical practice. ​

As a principal investigator, Dr. Yeo is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists. He serves as Co-Director of the Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program and Associate Director of a Genetics T32 training program at UCSD. His leadership roles extend to being the Founding Director of the UCSD Center for RNA Technologies and Therapeutics and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. These positions allow him to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote trainee growth. Dr. Yeo's involvement in initiatives like the Diversity and Science Lecture Series (DASL) reflects his dedication to creating inclusive environments that support the development of emerging scientists. Through these efforts and involvement with organizations such as RNA Canada, he has shown a commitment to mentoring emerging scientists and reinforcing a culture of community-driven science within the RNA biology field.