Cuyler Yu

My name is Cuyler Yu, and I am an undergraduate student in Biomedical Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ottawa. Prior to the Amgen Scholars Program, I've completed work as a bioinformatician, biocontainment engineer, and most recently, in a medical engineering entrepreneurship program called Medventions Atlantic in Halifax. The work involves shadowing the routine of cardiologists in a hospital and later developing a solution to a problem we identify that includes a physical prototype and final pitch shown to doctors, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

Throughout these experiences, I've developed a passion for medical sciences, and I hope to pursue research in our greatest medical challenges, such as infectious diseases, using my skills as an engineer.

This summer, in the Amgen Scholars Program, I will be conducting research with Dr. Leonardo Salmena and PhD student Che Melo. We will undertake two projects that study pancreatic cancer mouse models and the role of a lipid called phosphoinositide phosphate in reacting to the disease. These projects build on the Salmena lab’s recent publication and a press release involving pancreatic cancer research.

Outside of work, I enjoy travelling as I’ve been to Japan, Europe, Mexico, China and the Americas. I also recently received my PADI open water certification during my time in Halifax, which allows me to scuba dive +60 ft deep across the world!