Ken Huaijin Loh, PhD, BSc
Assistant Professor in Comparative MedicineDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Comparative Medicine
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Yale University
PO Box 27391
West Haven, CT 06516-7392
United States
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Titles
Assistant Professor in Comparative Medicine
Biography
Ken Loh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine in the Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery at Yale University’s West Campus. A native of Singapore, he received his B.S. in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College in 2009 and earned his Ph.D in Chemistry with Alice Ting at MIT in 2016, developing chemical-enzymatic methodologies for tagging proteins in cells. Ken next received postdoctoral training with Jeffrey Friedman at Rockefeller University, studying the role of leptin in its regulation of sympathetic nerves in the fat organ, and joined the faculty at Yale in August of 2022. His lab is interested in studying brain-body interactions at a molecular length scale, using tools in chemical biology.
Last Updated on January 30, 2023.
Appointments
Comparative Medicine
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- NIH Pathway to Independence K99 Fellow
- The Rockefeller University (2022)
- Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow
- The Rockefeller University (2021)
- PhD
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chemistry (2016)
- BSc
- Harvey Mudd College, Chemistry (2009)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Autonomic Nervous System; Biochemistry; Diabetes Mellitus; Neurobiology; Obesity; Peripheral Nervous System; Proteomics; Synapses
Public Health Interests
Metabolism
ORCID
0000-0002-2901-0750- View Lab Website
Loh Laboratory
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Ken Huaijin Loh's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Ken Huaijin Loh's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Ken Huaijin Loh is interested in exploring.
Boby Mathew
Daniel McQuaid
Jeremy B. Jacox, MD, PhD
Richard Kibbey, MD, PhD
Sarah Slavoff
Smita Krishnaswamy, PhD
19Publications
1,994Citations
Proteomics
Autonomic Nervous System
Publications
2026
Controlling distance, time and reactivity: Chemical principles of proximity labeling
Ruenkam T, Wang Z, Juvekar V, Loh KH. Controlling distance, time and reactivity: Chemical principles of proximity labeling. Current Opinion In Chemical Biology 2026, 93: 102705. DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2026.102705.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCell-type-specific proximity labeling of organ secretomes reveals energy balance-dependent proteomic remodeling
Plucińska K, Wayne C, Sanford H, Mathew B, Ropek N, Adaniya S, Model C, Gómez-Banoy N, Morozova K, Cao X, Friedman J, Loh K, Cohen P, Vinogradova E. Cell-type-specific proximity labeling of organ secretomes reveals energy balance-dependent proteomic remodeling. Cell Reports 2026, 45: 117507. PMID: 42284144, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117507.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsEndoplasmic reticulumOrganismal metabolic homeostasisES cell-derived miceCell-type-specific labelingER proteomeProximity labelingProteome remodelingMembrane proteinsProximity-labelingMetabolic homeostasisComprehensive resourceMetabolic tissuesResponse to fastingDietary obesitySystemic energy balanceB lymphocytesProteomicsTherapeutic targetIndividual tissuesIntercellular communicationTurboIDLigaseTissueReticulumProteinControlling distance, time and reactivity: Chemical principles of proximity labeling
Ruenkam T, Wang Z, Juvekar V, Loh K. Controlling distance, time and reactivity: Chemical principles of proximity labeling. Current Opinion In Chemical Biology 2026, 93: 102705. PMID: 42284692, PMCID: PMC13267857, DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2026.102705.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCell-type-specific proximity labeling of organ secretomes reveals energy balance-dependent proteomic remodeling
Plucińska K, Wayne CR, Sanford H, Mathew B, Ropek N, Adaniya SM, Model C, Gómez-Banoy N, Morozova K, Cao X, Friedman JM, Loh KH, Cohen P, Vinogradova EV. Cell-type-specific proximity labeling of organ secretomes reveals energy balance-dependent proteomic remodeling. Cell Reports 2026, 45: 117507. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2026.117507.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBeta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma development
Garcia CC, Venkat A, McQuaid DC, Agabiti SS, Tong A, Mathew B, Cardone RL, Starble R, Ruiz CF, Zheng C, Sogunro A, Jacox JB, Loh KH, Kibbey RG, Krishnaswamy S, Muzumdar MD. Beta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma development. Nature Communications 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69821-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how beta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic cancer development, showing that targeting endocrine signaling could prevent tumor progression in obesity-related contexts.Beta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma development
Garcia C, Venkat A, McQuaid D, Agabiti S, Tong A, Mathew B, Cardone R, Starble R, Ruiz C, Zheng C, Sogunro A, Jacox J, Loh K, Kibbey R, Krishnaswamy S, Muzumdar M. Beta cell-derived cholecystokinin drives obesity-associated pancreatic adenocarcinoma development. Nature Communications 2026, 17: 3292. PMID: 41760660, PMCID: PMC13066563, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69821-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates how obesity-induced cholecystokinin (CCK) expression in pancreatic beta cells drives pancreatic cancer development by altering cellular signaling within the environment of arising tumors, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
2025
Parkinson’s disease and metabolic disorders, understanding their shared co-morbidity through the autonomic nervous system
Pham T, Schelling R, Loh K. Parkinson’s disease and metabolic disorders, understanding their shared co-morbidity through the autonomic nervous system. Advances In Genetics 2025, 113: 199-247. PMID: 40409798, PMCID: PMC12707340, DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2025.02.001.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCentral nervous systemMetabolic disordersSubstantia nigraNervous systemParkinson's diseasePD progressionDopaminergic neuronal lossPeripheral nervous systemAutonomic nervous systemAutonomic dysfunctionDiabetes mellitusProgression of PDPeripheral organsDopaminergic neuronsMetabolic dysfunctionMetabolic dysregulationTherapeutic strategiesNonmotor dysfunctionsCo-morbidityDysfunctionBidirectional relationshipNeuronal lossMetabolic diseasesDiseaseDisorders
2023
Unannotated microprotein EMBOW regulates the interactome and chromatin and mitotic functions of WDR5
Chen Y, Su H, Zhao J, Na Z, Jiang K, Bacchiocchi A, Loh K, Halaban R, Wang Z, Cao X, Slavoff S. Unannotated microprotein EMBOW regulates the interactome and chromatin and mitotic functions of WDR5. Cell Reports 2023, 42: 113145. PMID: 37725512, PMCID: PMC10629662, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsG2/M phaseWD40-repeat protein WDR5Mitotic spindle lengthMultiple interaction partnersM phaseOff-target genesLate G1 phaseWDR5 interactionMitotic functionsH3K4me3 levelsWDR5Interaction partnersMultiple proteinsExpression maximaCell cycleSpindle lengthG1 phaseGenesCell proliferationOff-target bindingBindingInteractomeChromatinTranscriptionKIF2A.Correction: Chemical labeling and proteomics for characterization of unannotated small and alternative open reading frame-encoded polypeptides
Chen Y, Cao X, Loh K, Slavoff S. Correction: Chemical labeling and proteomics for characterization of unannotated small and alternative open reading frame-encoded polypeptides. Biochemical Society Transactions 2023, 51: 1747-1748. PMID: 37584326, DOI: 10.1042/bst20221074_cor.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersCitationsAltmetricChemical labeling and proteomics for characterization of unannotated small and alternative open reading frame-encoded polypeptides
Chen Y, Cao X, Loh K, Slavoff S. Chemical labeling and proteomics for characterization of unannotated small and alternative open reading frame-encoded polypeptides. Biochemical Society Transactions 2023, 51: 1071-1082. PMID: 37171061, PMCID: PMC10317152, DOI: 10.1042/bst20221074.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsChemical labelingAlternative open reading framesOpen reading frameLimited sequence homologyMammalian genomesGene classesProtein domainsQuantitative proteomicsReading frameSequence homologyBiological roleProteomic discoveryMolecular levelSmORFsCell proliferationProteomicsInteractomeGenomeSpecific propertiesExperimental techniquesLabelingHomologyPolypeptideProteinFunctionalization
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Honors
honor 2025 Collaborative Sciences Award
04/01/2025National AwardAmerican Heart AssociationDetailsUnited Stateshonor 2024 ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
05/29/2024National AwardORAUDetailsUnited Stateshonor Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship Award in Neuroscience
07/01/2023National AwardEsther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fundhonor NIH Pathway to Independence Award K99/R00
08/11/2021National AwardNIH/NIDDKhonor Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship
04/01/2018National AwardHelen Hay Whitney Foundation
Teaching & Mentoring
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Mentoring
Rebecca Schelling
Graduate student2024 - PresentAngela To
Graduate student2024 - PresentZhongjie Wang
Postdoc2024 - PresentVinayak Juvekar
Associate Research Scientist2024 - Present
Willing and Available to Mentor
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Mailing Address
Yale University
PO Box 27391
West Haven, CT 06516-7392
United States
Administrative Support
Locations
Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery
Academic Office
West Campus Molecular Innovations Center
600 West Campus Drive, Rm 312D
West Haven, CT 06516
Business Office
203.737.3870