Yu (Hugo) Yan

E.P. Abraham Scholarship

Joining us from: Canada

DPhil in Clinical Medicine (2023)

I am a graduate student from Toronto, Canada, currently reading for a DPhil in Clinical Medicine at the University of Oxford. I previously completed a BHSc in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization and an MSc in Medical Sciences at McMaster University, Canada. During my MSc, my research focused on the epigenetic regulation of immune surveillance in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which sparked my continued interest in cancer biology and immunotherapy. 

My doctoral research at Oxford aims to develop novel protein therapeutics for cancer and autoimmune disorders. Specifically, my work explores how bringing specific proteins into close proximity can help switch off cancer-driving signals or enhance the activity of immune checkpoint pathways. By applying this approach to diseases such as cancer or autoimmune disorders, I hope to contribute to the development of more targeted and effective treatments. 

I have found the DPhil both demanding and intellectually stimulating. Oxford’s collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment has encouraged me to think broadly about how fundamental biological insights can be translated into meaningful therapeutic applications. The Clarendon Scholarship in partnership with St. Cross E.P. Abraham Scholarship and Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine Studentship has been invaluable in supporting my academic journey. It has enabled me to fully engage with my research, as well as the wider intellectual and social life of the University. 

I have greatly enjoyed being part of St Cross College, which is welcoming, diverse, and offers some of the best food options in Oxford. Outside of my studies, I am a foil fencer for the Oxford Fencing Team and have represented the Oxford Assassins Team in the BUCS Championships and the Varsity Match against Cambridge.