Yu Leilin

Dual-qualified physician and translational scientist holding an MBBS and an MRes from the University of Edinburgh, pairing five years of frontline clinical practice in nephrology and haematology with over five years of molecular and translational research. Specialist expertise spans kidney disease, onco-immunology, single-cell genomics, and structural biology. Adept at critically appraising evidence-based literature, distilling complex scientific and clinical data into clear, actionable insights, and building enduring, trust-based relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, ethics committees, and regulatory authorities.

An effective communicator equally comfortable at the laboratory bench, the patient bedside, and the scientific podium. Author or co-author of three peer-reviewed papers — two in SCI-indexed journals, one as first author — contributor to three national patents, and an experienced project leader who has managed grant-funded clinical studies end to end. Seeking a Medical Science Liaison role in oncology, immunology, or nephrology where scientific rigour and cross-functional collaboration drive measurable impact.

Research Assistant - Institute of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University - Changsha, China

(2021-10 - 2026-05)

• Built and standardised end-to-end workflows for renal tissue procurement, processing, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, ensuring reproducible, publication-quality results across studies.
• Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics to map cellular heterogeneity and resolve disease mechanisms in ischaemic acute kidney injury and hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy.
• Validated candidate disease-associated proteins in human renal tissue, prioritising targets to support therapeutic discovery and translational hypothesis generation.
• Designed and drove biomarker discovery pipelines for renal fibrosis and acute and chronic kidney injury, linking molecular signatures to clinical phenotypes.
• Analysed high-dimensional transcriptomic datasets in R, producing publication-ready figures and visualisations for manuscripts and grant submissions.
• Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented findings at national and international nephrology congresses, translating bench data into clinically framed narratives.
• Collaborated within a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, bioinformaticians, and pathologists, coordinating sample logistics, ethics compliance, and cross-site data sharing.

Research Assistant - School of Medicine, Nanchang University – Jin Zhang Laboratory - Nanchang, China

(2020-10 - 2021-02)

• Designed and validated PCR primers from systematic literature review; performed amplification, product purification, and downstream analysis.
• Executed molecular cloning, expression-vector screening, and mammalian cell transfection, followed by protein purification, quantification, electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry.
• Applied lipid Nanodisc technology to stabilise membrane proteins under near-native conditions, acquiring cryo-EM data and contributing to three-dimensional structural model construction.
• Optimised protein-expression and purification protocols, troubleshooting yield and stability issues to improve sample quality for structural studies.
• Maintained meticulous electronic laboratory records and collaborated closely with senior researchers within a structural biology group.

Research Assistant - School of Medicine, University of Edinburgh – David Ferenbach Laboratory - Edinburgh, UK

(2019-10 - 2020-10)

• Prepared renal tissue through fixation, sectioning, staining, and delipidation, and performed in situ hybridisation to localise target gene expression.
• Imaged and quantified nucleic acid probe signals by fluorescence microscopy to map spatial gene expression patterns in kidney tissue.
• Investigated the role of cellular senescence in renal repair and regeneration, characterising novel senescent-cell markers with potential to refine renal fibrosis diagnostics.
• Conducted structured literature reviews and contributed to experimental design as part of the MRes research programme.
• Presented progress and results in laboratory meetings and an academic poster, strengthening scientific communication skills in an international research setting.

Physician / Laboratory Physician (Nephrology & Hematology) - Jiujiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital - Jiujiang, China

(2014-09 - 2019-04)

• Delivered end-to-end clinical care — diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up — for patients with chronic kidney disease and complex haematological conditions.
• Performed advanced renal replacement therapies, including haemodialysis and vascular access management, for patients across CKD stages.
• Conducted peripheral blood and bone-marrow smear morphology diagnostics, contributing to the diagnosis and monitoring of haematological disorders.
• Interpreted laboratory and biochemical results to guide individualised treatment regimens and monitor therapeutic response.
• Collaborated within multidisciplinary teams to optimise clinical decision-making, maintaining adherence to clinical governance and documentation standards.
• Counselled patients and families on disease management and treatment options, strengthening communication, education, and treatment adherence.

MRes - University of Edinburgh

MBBS - University of Edinburgh