Current members
Rhianna Baldwin PhD candidate (profile) BSc (Soton)
I aim to identify and optimise small molecule compound hits, for a metabolic enzyme, by developing a workflow that includes DEL screening, machine learning and cryo EM.
Douglas Ferreira DPhil candidate MSc (UNIFESP), BSc (UFMG)
I am studying a multiprotein complex associated with rare metabolic diseases. I aim to understand the structural features of the proteins of the complex and their interactions using cryo EM and biophysical assays.
Richard Heath Research Associate (twitter) DPhil (Oxon), BSc (Notts)
I am using rationalised drug design in combination with structural biology and biophysical assays to identify and develop a novel therapeutic target for Pyridoxine-dependent Epilepsy, a rare disorder of lysine metabolism.
Paola Lanzoni-Mangutchi Research associate PhD (Newcastle), MSc BSc (USP, Brazil)
I combine structural biology and biophysical assays to characterise and optimise inhibitors for a key member of the complement cascade, as novel therapeutic target for rare blood and immune disorders .
Sabrina Mackinnon Research associate (profile) DPhil (Oxon), BSc (Robert Gordon)
I aim to advance new treatment of rare metabolic disorders through the discovery of novel binding sites on disease-associated enzymes. I specialise in fragment screening by X-ray crystallography, paired with enzyme activity and binding assays.
Thomas McCorvie Senior research associate (profile, twitter) PhD, BSc (QUB)
I use structural and biochemical techniques to answer fundamental questions of metabolic enzyme functions, with a special focus on revealing the hidden world of shape shifting enzymes and multiprotein complexes using cryo EM.
Katie McLennan PhD candidate MSci (Glas)
I use CRISPR Knock-In technology to insert affinity tags to endogenous proteins for purification, cryo-EM and interaction studies, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of protein complexes associated with genetic diseases.
Jiazhi Tang Research associate (profile) PhD (UCL), BSc (Wuhan)
I use the crystallographic approach to develop pharmacological chaperones that target a metabolic enzyme, with the goal of developing treatments for a protein misfolding disorder.
Wyatt Yue Group Leader (profile, twitter) PhD (Lond), MBiochem (Oxon)
Wyatt specialises in the use of structural, biochemical and chemical biology approaches to study human metabolic enzymes and associated rare diseases. He is currently Professor of Structural Biology at the Newcastle University Biosciences Institute.
Group Photos
Rare Disease Day 2018 
New lab at Newcastle 2021 
Socially distanced picnic 2020 
Rare Disease Day 2022
Yue lab’s alumni
Ian Hope (Postdoc 2022-2024), Postdoc at Newcastle University Medicinal Chemistry team
Manisha Yadav (Postdoc 2022-2023), Scientist at T-Therapeutics
Jesse Coker (DPhil 2017-2021), Postdoc at Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic
Henry Bailey (DPhil 2016-2020), Postdoc at Goethe University Frankfurt, Ivan Dikic’s group
Gustavo Bezerra (Senior scientist 2017-2020), Group leader at Bicycle Therapeutics
William Foster (Research Technician 2018-2020), PhD candidate at Sussex University
Jack Kelly (DPhil 2016-2020), Scientist at Casma Therapeutics
Catherine Tham (Research assistant 2019-2020), Senior Scientist at Evotec
Nicolas Fox (Postdoc 2015-2019), Senior Scientist at Merck Inc
Minghao Zhang (Research technician 2017-2019), Research Assistant at Target Discovery Institute, Oxford
Hannah Brazier (DPhil 2013-2017), Medical Writer at Succinct Comms
Elzbieta Rembeza (Research technician 2015-2017), PhD student in Chalmers University of Technology
Jola Kopec (Postdoc 2013-2017), Senior Scientist at Evotec
Stephanie Oerum (DPhil 2012-2016), Postdoc at Université Paris Diderot
Igor Ferreira (Visiting scientist 2012-2013, Postdoc 2015-2016)
Dipali Patel (SGC postdoc 2013-2015), Scientist at Relay Therapeutics
Fiona Fitzpatrick (Research technician 2013-2015), PhD student at University of Cambridge
Izabella Pena (Visiting scientist 2013-2014), Postdoc at MIT
Sean Froese (Postdoc 2010-2013), Assistant Professor at Kinderspital Zurich
Wasim Kiyani (Research technician 2011-2013), PhD student at Glasgow University
Naeem Shafqat (Postdoc 2009-2011), Senior Assistant Professor, University Brunei Darussalam
Ewelina Kryztofinska (Research technician 2009-2011), Scientist at Astex Therapeutics