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.

Prof. Yap dedicated his research to immune-mediated glomerular diseases, focusing on lupus nephritis and membranous nephropathy. Prof Yap was the co-first author for the Asian Guidelines for the management of lupus nephritis - jointly published in the official journals of regional nephrology and rheumatology societies [Nephrology (Carlton) 2014 & Int J Rheum Dis 2013], and also took a leading role in the formulation of the 2024 APLAR Consensus on the Management of Lupus Nephritis [Int J Rheum Dis 2024]. 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.

Other key research interests of Prof. Yap pertain to the management of complications in acute and chronic kidney diseases, and he was the first author of various local/regional guidelines for the management of anaemia, hyperkalaemia and infective complications in renal failure patients [Nephrology (Carlton) 2021; Nephrology (Carlton) 2024; Hum Vaccin Immunother 2025].

Prof Yap holds leadership positions in various local-regional and international nephrology societies - currently serving as the Honorary Secretary of HKSN, Honorary Treasurer of Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology (APSN), and Regional Board Member (North and East Asia) of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN). Prof Yap has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles in various internationally renowned journals, and is currently Subject Editor for Nephrology (Carlton), 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. Chan EYH, Sinha A, Yu ELM, Akhtar N, Angeletti A, Bagg A, Banerjee S, Boyer O, Chan CY, Francis A, Ghiggeri GM, Hamada R, Hari P, Hooman N, Hopf LS, Ikram M, Ijaz I, Ivanov DD, Kalra S, Kang MD HG, Lucchetti L, Lugani F, Ma ALT, Morello W, María Muñiz MDC 23, Pradhan SK, Prikhodina L, Raafat RH, Sinha R, Teo S, Tomari K, Vivarelli M, Webb H, Yap HK, Yap DYH*, Tullus K*. Rituximab therapy in childhood steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: an international, multi-centre study. Kidney Int. 2024; 106; 1146-1157. [*co-corresponding author]
2. Ng PY, Ip A, Ng AK, Sin SW, Chan JF, To KK, Yap DY*. Risk of acute kidney injury in critically-ill patients with COVID-19 compared with seasonal influenza: a retrospective cohort study. EClinicalMedicine. 2024: 14; 70:102535. [*Corresponding author];
3. Zhu L, Wong YH, Wong SSH, Cheung SCY, Sher JKH, Yam IYL, Yung S, Chan TM, Yap DYH*. Alterations in exhausted and classical memory B cells in lupus nephritis - Relationship with disease relapse. Clin Immunol. 2024; 265: 110284. [*Corresponding author]
4. Lau KM, Chu PWK, Tang LWM, Chen BPY, Yeung NKM, Ip P, Lee P, Yap DYH*, Kwok JSY. ABO-adjusted cPRA metric for kidney allocation in an Asian-predominant population. HLA. 2024 Jan;103(1): e15229 [*Co-corresponding author]
5. Chan EY, Yap DY*, Wong WH, Wong SW, Lin KY, Hui FY, Li JY, Lam SS, Wong JK, Lai FF, Ho TW, Tong PC, Lai WM, Chan TM, Ma AL. Renal relapse in children and adolescents with childhood-onset lupus nephritis: a 20-year study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Aug 26: kead447. [*co-first author]
6. Chan EY, Yap DY*, Wong WT, Wong WH, Wong SW, Lin KY, Hui FY, Yee-Ming J, Lam SS, Wong JK, Lai FF, Ho TW, Tong PC, Lai WM, Chan TM, Ma AL. Long-Term Outcomes of Children and Adolescents with Biopsy-Proven Childhood-Onset Lupus Nephritis. Kidney Int Rep. 2022; 8: 141-150. [*co-first author]
7. Yap DYH, Li PH, Tang C, So BYF, Kwan LPY, Chan GCW, Lau CS, Chan TM. Long-term results of triple immunosuppression with tacrolimus added to mycophenolate and corticosteroids in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Kidney Int Rep 2021; 7: 516-525.
8. Yap DY, Liu KSH, Hsu YC, Wong GLH, Tsai MC, Chen CH, Hsu CS, Hui YT, Li MKK, Liu CH, Kan YM, Yu ML, Yuen MF. Use of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and severe renal impairment. Clin Mol Hepatol 2020; 26:554-561.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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].
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.

Competitive Grants as Principal Investigators

1. Research Grant Council (RGC)/General Research Fund (GRF) 2025/2026. Amount: HK$ 1,351,472
2. HK Innovation and Technology Fund – Partnership Research Programme (ITF-PRP) 2022, Innovation and Technology Commission. Amount: HK$ 2,382,524 (HK$437,000 + Research Talent Hub HK$1,945,524)
3. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2022. Amount $696,000
4. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2018, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$: 1,499,244
5. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2016, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$: 1,197,668
6. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2014, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$1,178,412
7. Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) 2013, Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR. Amount: HK$918,000
8. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2017. Amount: HK$547,746
9. S. K. Yee Medical Foundation Grant 2013. Amount: HK$132,000
10. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2017. Amount: HK$40,000
11. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2016. Amount: HK$50,000
12. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2015. Amount: HK$40,000
13. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2014. Amount: HK$50,000
14. Hong Kong College of Physicians Young Investigator Research Grant 2013. Amount: HK$50,000
15. Hong Kong Society of Nephrology Research Grant 2012. Amount: HK$40,000
16. 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)

1. Regional Board Member (North and East Asia), International Society of Nephrology (ISN) [since 2025]
2. Honorary Treasurer, Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology (APSN) [since 2024]
3. Honorary Secretary, Hong Kong Society of Nephrology (HKSN) [since 2023]
4. Scientific Program Committee Chairman, the 18th Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation (CAST) 2023
5. Scientific Committee Co-Chairman, Asia-Oceania Conference on Obesity 2023
6. Medical Director, HKU Phase 1 Clinical Trial Centre (since 2023)
7. Member, Faculty Higher Education Committee, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (since 2022)
8. Deputy Chairman, Institutional Review Board of The University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (HKU/HAHKW IRB) (since 2021)
9. Clinical Curriculum Co-director, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (since 2019)
10. Council Member, Hong Kong Society of Transplantation (since 2019)
11. Honorary Secretary, Asian Lupus Nephritis Network (since 2012)
12. Honorary Secretary, Hong Kong Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (2012-2013)

1. Editor, Scientific Reports (Published by Nature portfolio) (since 2023)
2. Associate Editor, Frontier in Immunology (since 2022)
3. Subject Editor, Nephrology (Carlton) (Official Journal of APSN) (since 2018)