Barbara believes strongly in the long-term vision of finding a cure for citrin deficiency by bringing together world leading experts to work collaboratively on it, and to provide support for patients globally with this rare condition. It is with such belief that she co-founded Citrin Foundation with her husband Yen How Tai. Together, they have provided all the funding for the Foundation.  

Barbara Yu is also the co-founder and co-CEO of YH2 Capital, an investment firm that adopts a long-term investment approach. The firm’s investment return has constantly outperformed the market since its inception.  

Prior to founding YH2 Capital, Barbara was the Head of Asia and Partner of Eton Park Capital Management from 2006 to 2010 and was responsible for Eton Park’s public and private investments in Asia. In her role, Barbara founded, built, and managed the Asia portfolio business of Eton Park since its inception in 2006. 

Prior to joining Eton Park in 2006, Barbara spent five years at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong where she rose to the position of the Head of the firm’s Principal Strategies Group in the Asia Pacific region. The Group encompassed the proprietary investing business of the equities division at Goldman. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Barbara worked at Morgan Stanley in New York and Hong Kong, where she focused on mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring. 

Barbara graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge University, with a BA in Law, double first-class honors. Barbara was awarded the N. Diaz Scholarship for Law and Norton Rose Prize for Commercial Law. She was also a Jardine Scholar which provided a full scholarship for her undergraduate study. 

Yen How Tai is the co-founder, co-CEO, and CIO of YH2 Capital, an investment firm that adopts a long-term investment approach. Prior to founding YH2 Capital, Yen was an entrepreneur and investor. In 1999, he founded an online real estate company and grew it to be the biggest online property business in Hong Kong. After selling the business, Yen branched out into real estate investment and development in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Yen worked at Investor AB’s private equity arm in Asia. Yen started his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company’s in Greater China office, where he advised governments and leading multinational corporations in China, Japan and Southeast Asia, in the telecommunications, consumer products, information technology, government policies and retail sectors.

Yen graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Economics. Yen was an ASEAN Scholar.

Dr. Tai, MBBS MRCP PHD, is a consultant neurologist and Clinical Senior Lecturer at Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College London. He graduated with first class honours from the University of Sydney medical school.

He underwent clinical neurology training in Cambridge and London, and obtained his PhD at Imperial College London.

He has a research background in using functional imaging to study the pathogenesis and treatment responses of neuroprotective therapy in neurodegenerative diseases. More recently, he is also interested in using technology and neuromodulation, including deep brain stimulation, to improve the treatment of movement disorders. He is also experienced in setting up open access patient registry for clinical trials.

Li Eon leads the scientific development of the Foundation by working closely with our scientific research consortium and partnering with pharmaceutical companies. He overlooks all research programs supported by the Foundation and strives to advance the Foundation’s goals in understanding the basic science of the condition and discovering effective therapies for citrin deficiency patients. Being an advocate for translational research, Li Eon also works closely with clinicians to bridge the gap between clinical practice and basic science to bring novel therapies to patients. 

Li Eon completed his post-doctoral studies at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, where he worked with Dr. Robert Lee at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. His research examined the anti-microbial effects of bitter-tasting compounds in airway cells grown in 3D culture and how such compounds may be effective in warding off respiratory infections. 

Li Eon obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, where he studied the immunological mechanisms underlying asthma. During his Ph.D., Li Eon was awarded both the Melbourne International Research Scholarship and the European Respiratory Society Research Travel scholarship, which enabled him to conduct part of his studies at the University of Southampton, UK. There, he worked with Professors Stephen Holgate and Donna Davies, who are the leading figures in the field of asthma research. 

lieonkuek@citrinfoundation.org

Based in London, Shaima focuses on identifying, directing, and establishing patient outreach and engagement initiatives. This includes developing patient support tools and resources, organising patient engagement activities and facilitating communication between patients and clinicians. Additionally, she helps to develop new partnerships and coordinate and support potential clinical studies.  

Shaima obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Birmingham, UK. She spent the next two years travelling and undertaking freelance writing projects as well as an editorial fellowship. In 2020, she moved on to earn an MSc in Psychology from University College London. Having grown up in Saudi Arabia, Shaima is passionate about approaches to wellbeing that value cultural context. 

Her master’s research evaluated the use of creative methods in emotional processing of grief in rare dementia caregivers. Throughout her studies, Shaima worked as a dementia care professional and upon graduation, she joined Rare Dementia Support as a research assistant at UCL.

shaimaalterkawi@citrinfoundation.org

Yurika is based in London and assists with various projects from patient and clinician outreach to working with clinicians and scientists in different institutes. She will be working on the development of the Japan Foundation website and social media platforms, aiding on diet consultation, as well as communicating with and supporting patients and their families.

Yurika obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Chemistry from Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo, Japan. She spent her time researching the effect of Sulforaphane (a compound rich in broccoli sprouts) on anti-ageing and life span extension.

She moved on to do further research and laboratory work at Imperial College London, UK where she completed her Master of Research. She joined two laboratories and worked on research topics such as immunology and cancer, working with cells and mouse models.

Yurika was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and is fluent in both English and Japanese. In recent years, she has also acquired the basics of the Korean Language.

yurikaasami@citrinfoundation.org

Andrea assists with administrative and operational support for the Foundation, along with the management of the Foundation’s research projects and collaborations. She also aids with the planning and execution of the Foundation’s events through communicating and liaising with patients, researchers, and clinicians in the Foundation’s network, and helps in the development and implementation of the Foundation’s various initiatives.

Andrea obtained her diploma in Gerontological Management Studies from Temasek Polytechnic and worked as a research assistant at the Duke NUS Centre of Ageing and Research. She also received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Buffalo with a double major in Communications and Sociology.

andreatan@citrinfoundation.org