Prof Desmond Yat-Hin Yap joined the University Department of Medicine after his graduation from MBBS at the University of Hong Kong. He later pursued his Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at his alma mater, both along the study of the immunopathogenesis and treatment of lupus nephritis.

His current major theme of research is immune-mediated glomerular diseases, with emphasis on lupus nephritis and membranous nephropathy. Prof Yap was the co-First author for the Asian Guidelines for the management of lupus nephritis, co-published in the official journals of regional nephrology and rheumatology societies [Nephrology (Carlton) 2014; 19: 11-20 & Int J Rheum Dis 2013; 16: 25-36], and his research findings have also contributed to the latest KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Glomerulonephritis 2021. He received the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology (HKSN) Young Investigator Award in 2009 for his research on serum immunoglobulin binding activity to human mesangial cells in lupus nephritis. Funded by the Li Shu Pui Clinical Fellowship (2014-2015), Prof Yap worked as a research fellow at the Fiebiger-Nikolaus Centre, Friedrich-Alexander University, Germany to study B cell homeostasis in immune-mediated diseases. Prof Yap was awarded the LKS Faculty Teaching Medal in 2019, in recognition of his contributions in teaching and curriculum development. In 2021, he was awarded the prestigious Sir David Todd Lectureship by the Hong Kong College of Physicians for his work on lupus nephritis research.

Prof Yap’s other research interest pertains to infective complications in renal failure patients, focusing on viral hepatitis in kidney transplant recipients and recently COVID-19 infection in renal patients. He is a co-author for the chapter on infection control in a nephrology clinical practice guideline to be jointly published by the Hospital Authority Central Renal Committee and the Hong Kong College of Physicians.

Prof Yap is currently the EXCO member of the Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology (APSN) and also the Honorary Treasurer of the HKSN. He also serves as Council Member of various important professional societies including the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation and the Hong Kong Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Prof Yap has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles in various internationally renowned journals, and is currently Subject Editor for Nephrology, the official journal of the APSN.

1. Lupus nephritis and other glomerular diseases – clinical and translational studies (molecular immunology and immunopathogenesis)
2. Novel immunosuppressive treatments in kidney diseases
3. Infections in renal failure patients – management and prevention
4. Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced medical technology – Application in kidney diseases

1. Yap DY, Hai J, Lee PCH, Zhou X, Lee M, Zhang Y, Wang M, Chen X. Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of HBM9161, a novel FcRn inhibitor, in a Phase 1 Study for Healthy Chinese Volunteers. Clin Transl Sci. 2021 Mar 20.
2. Yap DY, Yung S, Lee P, Yam IYL, Tam C, Tang C, Chan TM. B Cell Subsets and Cellular Signatures and Disease Relapse in Lupus Nephritis. Front Immunol. 2020; 11: 1732.
3. Yap DYH, Chan TM. B Cell Abnormalities in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Lupus Nephritis-Role in Pathogenesis and Effect of Immunosuppressive Treatments. Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 10; 20.
4. Yap DYH, Kwan LPY, Ma MKM, Mok MMY, Chan GCW, Chan TM. Pre-emptive immunosuppressive treatment for asymptomatic serological reactivation may reduce renal flares in patients with lupus nephritis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2019; 34: 467-73.
5. Yap DYH, Thong KM, Yung S, Tang C, Ma BMY, Chan TM. Antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with lupus nephritis: clinical correlations and associations with long-term outcomes. Lupus. 2019;28:1460-1467.
6. Yap DY, Tang C, Chan GCW, Kwan LPY, Ma MKM, Mok MMY, Chan TM. Longterm Data on Sirolimus Treatment in Patients with Lupus Nephritis. J Rheumatol. 2018; 45: 1663-70.
7. Yap DY, Tam CH, Yung S, Wong S, Tang CSO, Mok TMY, Yuen CKY, Ma MKM, Lau CS, Chan TM. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics of mycophenolic acid and its clinical correlations in maintenance immunosuppression for lupus nephritis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2018 Sep 11.
8. Yap DY, Tang C, Ma MKM, Mok MMY, Chan GCW, Kwan LPY, Chan TM. Data on Disease Flares in Patients with Proliferative Lupus Nephritis in Recent Years. J Rheumatol 2017; 44: 1375-1383.
9. Yap DY, Yung S, Zhang Q, Tang C, Chan TM. Serum level of proximal renal tubular epithelial cell-binding immunoglobulin G in patients with lupus nephritis. Lupus. 2016 ;25:46-53.
10. Yap DY, Chan TM. Lupus Nephritis in Asia: Clinical Features and Management. Kidney Dis (Basel). 2015; 1: 100-9.
11. Yap DY, Yung S, Zhang Q, Tang C, Chan TM. Mesangial cell-binding activity of serum immunoglobulin g in patients with lupus nephritis. PLoS One 2014 Jul 9; 9: e101987.
12. Yap DY, Ma MK, Mok MM, Kwan LP, Chan GC, Chan TM. Long-term data on tacrolimus treatment in lupus nephritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2014; 53: 2232-7.
13. Mok CC, Yap DY*, Navarra SV, Liu ZH, Zhao MH, Lu L, Takeuchi T, Avihingsanon Y, Yu XQ, Lapid EA, Lugue-Lizardo LR, Sumethkul V, Shen N, Chen SL, Chan TM; Asian Lupus Nephritis Network (ALNN). Overview of
Lupus Nephritis Management Guidelines and Perspective from Asia. Co-published in Int J Rheum Dis 2013; 16; 625-36 & Nephrology (Carlton) 2014; 19: 11-20 [*co-first author].
14. Yap DY, Ma MK, Mok MM, Tang CS, Chan TM. Long-term data on corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil treatment in lupus nephritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2013; 52: 480-6.
15. Yap DY, Ma MK, Tang CS, Chan TM. Proliferation signal inhibitors in the treatment of lupus nephritis: preliminary experience. Nephrology (Carlton) 2012; 17: 676-80.
16. Yap DY, Tang CS, Ma MK, Lam MF, Chan TM. Survival analysis and causes of mortality in patients with lupus nephritis. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2012; 27: 3248-54.
17. Yap DY, Yu X, Chen XM, Lu F, Chen N, Li XW, Tang CS, Chan TM. Pilot 24 month study to compare mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus in the treatment of membranous lupus nephritis with nephrotic syndrome. Nephrology (Carlton) 2012; 17: 352-7.
18. Yap DY, Tang CS, Yung S, Choy BY, Yuen MF, Chan TM. Long-term outcome of renal transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis B infection-impact of antiviral treatments. Transplantation 2010; 90: 325-30.
19. Yap DY, Yung S, Tang CS, Seto WK, Ma MK, Mok MM, Kwan LP, Chan GC, Choy BY, Yuen MF, Chan TM. Entecavir treatment in kidney transplant recipients infected with hepatitis B. Clin Transplant 2014; 28: 1010-5.
20. Yap DY, Chan TM. Evolution of hepatitis B management in kidney transplantation. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20: 468-74.

Competitive Grants as Principal Investigators

1. Innovation and Technology Fund – Partnership Research Programme (ITF-PRP) 2022, Innovation and Technology Commission. Amount: HK$430,000
2. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2022. Amount $696,000
3. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2018, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$: 1,499,244
4. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2016, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$: 1,197,668
5. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2014, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$1,178,412
6. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2013, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$918,000
7. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2017. Amount: HK$547,746
8. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2013. Amount: HK$132,000
9. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2017. Amount: HK$40,000
10. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2016. Amount: HK$50,000
11. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2015. Amount: HK$40,000
12. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2014. Amount: HK$50,000
13. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2013. Amount: HK$50,000
14. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2012. Amount: HK$40,000
15. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2009. Amount: HK$40,000

• Sir David Todd Lectureship, Hong Kong College of Physicians (2021)
• Faculty Teaching Medal, LKS Faculty of Medicine (2019)
• Li Shu Pui Clinical Fellowship (2014-2015)
• Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Young Investigator Award (2009)
• Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Clinical Scholarship (2001-2002)
• Wong Ching Yee Medical Scholarship (2001-2002)
• Ho Kam Tong Prize in Community Medicine (2001)
• Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Clinical Scholarship (2000-2001)

• Scientific Program Committee Chairman, the 18th Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) 2023
• Scientific Committee Co-Chairman, Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity 2023
• Medical Director, HKU Phase 1 Clinical Trial Centre (since 2023)
• Member, Faculty Higher Education Committee, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (since 2022)
• Executive Committee Member, Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology (since 2021)
• Deputy Chairman, Institutional Review Board of The University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (HKU/HAHKW IRB) (since 2021)
• Clinical Curriculum Co-director, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (since 2019)
• Council Member, Hong Kong Society of Transplantation (since 2019)
• Council Member, Hong Kong Obesity Society (since 2016)
• Council Member, Hong Kong Society of Nephrology (since 2014)
• Honorary Secretary, Asian Lupus Nephritis Network (since 2012)
• Honorary Secretary, Hong Kong Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (2012-2013)
• Organizing & scientific committee of the 2013 Joint Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Association (APHIA) & Hong Kong Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (HKSHI)

• Associate Editor, Frontier in Immunology (since 2022)
• Subject Editor, Nephrology (Official Journal of Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology) (since 2018)