An in-depth journey with Dr. David YC Yung: From Research to Peptides Innovation

Nurturing and growing early interests

Dr. Yung’s love of medicine and health has been shaped by his deep interest in the intersection of cutting edge molecular and stem cell biology with traditional healing, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  His path has taken him from foundational academic research to leadership in biotechnology.  Pomelo Biosciences, encompassing brands such as PEP+ STRYDE and PEP+ BEAM, was founded on a vision to provide accessible peptide-based products that focus on improving lives.

Dr. Yung began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned two A.B. (Artium Baccalaureus) degrees in Molecular & Cell Biology and Cognitive Sciences while developing deep understanding how the brain functions at a molecular level, as well as interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the mind and consciousness.  

Subsequently, he went to Stanford University’s School of Medicine, where his research  as a Pre-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery focused on understanding how brain tumors grow and how to shrink tumor blood vessels and tumor size. This research introduced him to the intricate signaling mechanisms that govern cell behavior, an area that would become central to his later studies.

Dr. Yung then pursued his doctoral PhD degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, San Diego as a National Science Foundation Fellow, where he studied fat (lipid) signaling between cells and their effects on prenatal brain growth…and what happens when such signals go awry. His research uncovered how certain bioactive lipids present in blood and different tissues such as the brain - particularly one called lysophosphatidic acid (abbreviated LPA) - can affect brain stem cell behaviors and lead to a medical condition called hydrocephalus (colloquially called “water on the brain”).  He also identified links between chromosomal aneuploidy and brain cell diversity that may contribute to each of our distinctiveness and uniqueness. During this time, he also contributed to creating new single-nuclei RNA sequencing methods, in collaboration with Illumina, a notable biotech company in San Diego. This method has been foundational for -omics studies and is actively used by many scientists around the world who want to understand biology at a single-cell resolution, notably being used for “moon shot” projects like mapping the entire human brain.

Postdoctoral Research and Expanding Focus

After obtaining his PhD, Dr. Yung remained fascinated by how the environment shapes brain development. He subsequently joined Scripps Research in San Diego and focused on understanding maternal factors that contribute to perinatal and infant brain disorders. This work involved using integrated biological and chemical approaches to understand how molecular factors in blood impact brain development, further reinforcing his expertise in bioactive molecules. He transitioned to the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, where he was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor. In this role, he led projects on fetal and childhood hydrocephalus, collaborating with neurosurgeons and research groups to develop new insights into hemorrhage-related brain disorders.

A Vision of Bench-to-Bedside Cell Therapy Medicines

In 2018, just prior to the pandemic, Dr. Yung joined The Scintillon Research Institute as an Assistant Professor and research leader, where his work expanded beyond neurobiology into stem cell therapies, high-throughput COVID and disease diagnostics, and bioactive compounds for rejuvenation and increasing healthspan. His team is leading work on stem cell-derived therapies for conditions like diabetes and spinal cord injury, the use nanoantibodies and AI machine learning for high-throughput disease diagnostics, and finally, discovering and testing bioactive compounds and peptidomimetics inspired by traditional medicine, to promote cellular repair and longevity.

This phase of his career marked a significant shift toward applying scientific discoveries in practical ways, bridging laboratory research with real-world applications.

While leading research at Scintillon, Dr. Yung is also involved in some of the most cutting edge work in stem cells and exosomes, notably in induced pluripotent stem cells (abbreviated iPSCs). These stem cells can be coaxed and grown from anyone’s skin, from babies to grandparents and forever making obsolete the need to harvest and use umbilical cord, aborted fetuses, and other controversial methods to obtain stem cells.   

He is a Group Leader at Allele Biotechnology, the world’s leader in supplying iPSCs to highly successful pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which are running some of the most advanced and promising clinical trials to cure macular degeneration, paralysis from spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and more.  He also co-founded Allele Cypert Technology, a company focused on merging biology and high-tech solutions to improve health. Finally, he is co-director of SI-START, the biotech incubator/accelerator at Scintillon that has curated and is actively supporting new, highly-innovative companies to create new biotech technologies. 

Through his work in both academic and commercial biotech environments, Dr. Yung has a birdseye view of emerging trends in health and longevity.  

The Founding of Pomelo Biosciences

In 2024, Dr. Yung launched Pomelo Biosciences, a company dedicated to applying biopeptide innovations to consumer health. His goal was to take years of molecular research, regenerative medicine advancements, and biotech expertise and translate them into effective, science-backed solutions for cellular repair and long-term health.  

Through Pomelo Biosciences and product lines such as PEP+ STRYDE and PEP+ BEAM, he continues to explore how peptides can support the body’s natural healing processes, leveraging decades of research to create products that integrate the best of biotech and wellness.

Service to the Community

As part of his commitment to giving back to the community, Dr. Yung has focused on two of his passions. First, he is passionate about being a mentor for young scientists and nurturing their STEM interests. Through Scintillon’s SURE summer internship programs, he provides the opportunity for high school and early college students to work alongside professional researchers and both observe and have hands-on experience on cutting edge projects.  He has trained numerous students who have gone on to matriculate at the best colleges in America.  Second, he is currently working with the Hydrocephalus Association, America’s largest national, non-profit support and advocacy group for patients and families with hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is often treated with brain surgeries, and many patients have already undergone more surgeries than can be imagined.  As current Chair of their Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Yung is helping steer the organization with their strategic goals to better help grow the hydrocephalus research ecosystem and help support scientists to ultimately find a cure for this medical condition.