Dr. Ya Ha

Biography

Ya Ha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Yale School of Medicine, where he focuses on critical mechanisms of lipid metabolism and membrane proteins. His research spans the functional characterization of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases, investigating their roles as potential cancer treatment targets, specifically in p53-null tumor cells. Ha employs structural biology techniques, including X-ray crystallography, to dissect the active sites of intramembrane proteases, contributing to our understanding of cell signaling and metabolic regulation. Additionally, his work addresses eukaryotic cis-prenyltransferases and their involvement in glycosylation processes, linking genetic mutations to disease. With a strong emphasis on practical pharmacological applications, Ha aims to develop new therapeutic agents that could modulate these enzymes for disease treatment.

Research Interests