Yong Rao

Yong Rao, PhD, is a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and a Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. His work bridges molecular genetics and behavioral neuroscience.

• Affiliation: RI-MUHC, Montreal General Hospital site
• Program: Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN)
• Department: Division of Neurology, MUHC

Research Focus: Dr. Rao's lab investigates neuronal circuit formation and aggression regulation using Drosophila melanogaster as a model. His research explores axon guidance, tiling, and evolutionarily conserved genetic mechanisms critical for neural network development and behavior control.

• Studied genes regulating aggression in flies
• Identified key proteins in visual circuit assembly
• Explores molecular networks for directional choice post-stimulation

Publications: His recent work examines Drosophila models for neurodevelopmental and behavioral genetics, with applications to nerve injury repair and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.