Research Areas:

Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Cognitive functions are orchestrated by neurons and glial cells in different regions of the brain, and represent one of the major issues in neurodegenerative diseases and brain disorders. Our pioneering research into the functions of the nervous system and the underlying causes of neurological diseases tackles real-world health problems. Graduate students will join our expert research teams to investigate the molecular events that support cognitive functions, including the formation and retraction of synapses, dendrites and axons. Students will be trained to use zebrafish, Xenopus, rat, and mouse as genetic model organisms to investigate neurodevelopment, neuromuscular junction formation, physiological functions of neurons and glial cells, neuroinflammation, and pathological mechanisms that lead to neurodegeneration and neurocognitive disorders. The other training we offer includes research skills to assess the value of deep brain stimulation, neuroprotective effects from exercise and diet, and the potential utility of stem cells in neuroregeneration.

Contact Persons

Professor Raymond C.C. Chang

Research interest: Neuroimmunology; Alzheimer’s disease; Microglia; Dementia; Neurodegeneration

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/raymond-chuen-chung-chang

Professor Martin C.H. Cheung

Research interest: Neural development; Modelling neurological diseases by

cellular reprogramming; Molecular mechanisms of melanoma metastasis and

drug resistance 

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/martin-chi-hang-cheung

Professor Man Lung Fung

Research interest: Hypoxia physiology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/man-lung-fung

Professor Ruben Hervas Millan

Research interest: Functional protein aggregation; Functional amyloids; Electron-cryo microscopy; Memory persistence; Cellular memory

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/ruben-hervas-millan

Professor Jiandong Huang

Research interest: Synthetic biology; Vaccines for infectious diseases and cancers; Biological pattern formation; Intracellular transport

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jiandong-huang

Professor Michael S.Y. Huen

Research interest: DNA repair; Genome stability; DNA damage response; Cell cycle checkpoint control

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/michael-shing-yan-huen

Professor Ralf Jauch

Research interest: Protein design; Stem cell engineering; Rejuvenation and Ageing; Modelling diseases with stem cells

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/ralf-jauch

Professor Jung Kim

Research Interest: Effects of systemic stresses on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the brain

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jung-kim

Professor Cora S.W. Lai

Research interest: Two-photon in vivo imaging; Learning and memory; Synaptic plasticity; Cognitive neuroscience; Psychiatric diseases

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/cora-sau-wan-lai

Professor Shoutang Wang

Research interest: Microglia and neurodegenerative diseases; Immunotherapy and translational medicine; Cell signaling

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/shoutang-wang

Cell Signalling and Cancer Biology

Cell signalling defines the means via which cells sense and respond to internal and external cues, and is fundamental to cell proliferation and survival, cell-cell communication, and cell differentiation and organismal development. For instance, when cells detect changes in nutrient levels within the microenvironment, a cascade of signalling events ensues to maintain cell and tissue homeostasis. Our graduate programme in Cell Signalling and Cancer Biology provides comprehensive and highly interdisciplinary training in understanding how cellular signalling alterations can lead to various human diseases including cancer.  Our faculty members have expertise in a wide range of areas including mechanisms of diseases, preclinical disease models, genomics and epigenetics, cancer stem cells, DNA damage repair and DNA replication, molecular virology, cancer drug responses, tumour microenvironment, tumour-immune cell interactions, metabolism, cancer drug discovery, medicinal chemistry.

Our research is highly translational. Recent breakthroughs include, for examples, the identification of novel druggable molecular targets in cancers such as that of liver, ovary and skin; discovery of new druggable proteins by chemoproteomics or new covalent drug lead compounds as cancer therapeutics. Students will work in state-of-the-art laboratories to make high-impact discoveries for improving disease treatments and prevention.

Contact Persons

Dr. Xiucong Bao

Research interest: Chemical biology; Epigenetics; Proteomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/xiucong-bao

Dr. Chi Ping Chan

Research interest: Molecular virology and innate immunity; Molecular biology and transcriptional regulation

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/chi-ping-chan

Professor Lydia W.T. Cheung

Research interest: Cancer driver mutations; Cancer signalling; Drug sensitivity and resistance mechanisms

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/lydia-wai-ting-cheung

Professor Martin C.H. Cheung

Research interest: Neural development; Modelling neurological diseases by cellular reprogramming; Molecular mechanisms of melanoma metastasis and drug resistance 

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/martin-chi-hang-cheung

Professor Clive Y.S. Chung

Research interest: Chemical biology; Cancer therapy; Redox biology; Molecular probes; Drug targets and off-targets

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/yik-sham-clive-chung

Professor Man Lung Fung

Research interest: Hypoxia physiology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/man-lung-fung

Professor Mu He

Research interest: Tissue development and regeneration; Mouse genetics and human organoids for disease modelling

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/mu-he

Professor Michael S.Y. Huen

Research interest: DNA repair; Genome stability; DNA damage response; Cell cycle checkpoint control

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/michael-shing-yan-huen

Professor Asif Javed

Research interest: Multi-omics analysis of cancers and rare diseases; Computational biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/asif-javed

Professor Dong-Yan Jin

Research interest: Molecular virology; Innate antiviral response; Viral oncogenesis

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/dong-yan-jin

Professor Jung Kim

Research Interest: Systemic tumor-host interactions; Paraneoplastic syndromes

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jung-kim

Professor Sung Chul Kwon

Research interest: RNA biology and genome engineering

Website: http://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/sung-chul-kwon

Professor Pengtao Liu

Research interest: Stem cells; Genetics and genomics; Developmental Biology; Hematopoiesis and immune cell functions; Cancer cell killers; Cell-based therapies

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/pengtao-liu

Professor Yang Liu

Research interest: Epigenetic regulation; Chromatin structures and dynamics; Structural biology; Cancer biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/yang-liu

Professor Stephanie K.Y. Ma

Research interest: Cancer stemness, cancer stem cells; Tumor microenvironment; Cancer immunology; Drug resistance; Hepatocellular carcinoma; 3D organoid; Preclinical models; Translational cancer biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/stephanie-kwai-yee-ma

Professor David J.H. Shih

Research interest: Cancer genomics; Bayesian modelling; Deep learning; Bioinformatics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/david-jen-hao-shih

Professor Rio R. Sugimura

Research interest: Organoids and Stem Cells; Cell Engineering; Immunology; Cancer Immunotherapy

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/rio-ryohichi-sugimura

Professor Shoutang Wang

Research interest: Microglia and neurodegenerative diseases; Immunotherapy and translational medicine; Cell signaling

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/shoutang-wang

Professor Alan S.L. Wong

Research interest: Genome editing; Protein engineering; Synthetic biology; Combinatorial genetics; Drug target discovery; Disease biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/alan-siu-lun-wong

Dr. Eric T.L. Wong

Research interest: Cancer metabolism; Basic cancer research; Bioinformatics; Organoids

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/eric-tin-lok-wong

Professor Jason W.H. Wong

Research interest: Cancer genomics; Mutational processes; Epigenetics; Bioinformatics; Proteomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jason-wing-hon-wong

Professor Cheng-Han Yu

Research interest: Cell adhesion and cytoskeleton regulation; Podosome and invadopodium; Mechanobiology; Phosphatidylinositol signalling; Fluorescence microscopy

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/cheng-han-yu

Dr. Zi-Wei Ye

Research interest: Molecular virology; Antiviral immunity; Viral oncogenesis; Vaccines and drugs for infectious diseases

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/zi-wei-ye

Professor Zhongjun Zhou

Research interest: Chromatin architectural alterations in stem cell differentiation; Aging and development

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/zhongjun-zhou

Genomics and Biomedical Data Sciences

Technological advances in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, imaging, and access to a wide variety of digital health data in electronic health records, enable a big data approach to scientific discovery and digital health innovation. Our School has strong expertise in developing and applying state-of-the-art statistical and computational methods to harness these big data to address a variety of biomedical problems and drive novel discoveries in healthcare research. Key research areas include the following:

• Genomic landscapes and mutational signatures in cancers and rare diseases.
• Single cell transcriptomic or spatial transcriptomic data to identify cell populations and heterogeneity.
• Bayesian modeling of complex biological data.
• Altered gut microbiome in diseases.
• Metabolomics and proteomics to identify novel disease biomarkers.
• Use of wearable devices, smartphones and artificial intelligence in modern digital healthcare.

Graduates of the Genomics and Biomedical Data Sciences programme will be well qualified for careers in data science, software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning algorithms, etc.

Contact Persons

Professor Danny Chan

Research interest: Skeletal and matrix biology; Animal models of diseases; Stem cells and regeneration

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/danny-chan

Professor Joshua W.K. Ho

Research interest: Bioinformatics; Artificial intelligence; Medical big data; Digital health technology; Metagenomics; Single cell genomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/joshua-wing-kei-ho

Professor Yuanhua Huang

Research interest: Bioinformatics; Machine learning; Single-cell genomics; Spatial transcriptomics; Somatic mutations and evolution

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/yuanhua-huang

Professor Asif Javed

Research interest: Multi-omics analysis of cancers and rare diseases; Computational biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/asif-javed

Professor Pengtao Liu

Research interest: Stem cells; Genetics and genomics; Developmental Biology; Hematopoiesis and immune cell functions; Cancer cell killers; Cell-based therapies

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/pengtao-liu

Professor David J.H. Shih

Research interest: Cancer genomics; Bayesian modelling; Deep learning; Bioinformatics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/david-jen-hao-shih

Professor Alan S.L. Wong

Research interest: Genome editing; Protein engineering; Synthetic biology; Combinatorial genetics; Drug target discovery; Disease biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/alan-siu-lun-wong

Professor Jason W.H. Wong

Research interest: Cancer genomics; Mutational processes; Epigenetics; Bioinformatics; Proteomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jason-wing-hon-wong

Stem Cell, Molecular and Developmental Genetics

Our research in developmental biology provides invaluable insights into the molecular events that underlie the diverse cellular changes during embryogenesis, which is tightly linked to stem cell biology. A totipotent stem cell undergoes well-defined cell divisions and progressive lineage differentiation to specific cell types in the body. Gene mutations in stem cells can result in developmental defects and diseases. Thus, our Stem Cell, Molecular and Developmental Genetics programme harnesses stem cell biology, developmental biology and functional genetics to address complex questions in disease mechanism and the control of stem cell differentiation and cell functions, with an ultimate goal to contribute to the development of regenerative medicine, organ transplantation and genomic medicine for the benefit of humankind. Specific areas of focus include musculoskeletal, neurological, metabolic, and ageing defects. Students will develop cutting-edge research skills in cell reprogramming, design of stem cell inducer, directed evolution in mammalian cells, novel stem cell platforms and organoid systems, model organisms (e.g. Planarian, chick embryo, genetically engineered mice) and engineering immunology.

Contact Persons

Professor Danny Chan

Research interest: Skeletal and matrix biology; Animal models of diseases; Stem cells and regeneration

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/danny-chan

Professor Martin C.H. Cheung

Research interest: Neural development; Modelling neurological diseases by cellular reprogramming; Molecular mechanisms of melanoma metastasis and drug resistance

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/martin-chi-hang-cheung

Professor Mu He

Research interest: Tissue development and regeneration; Mouse genetics and human organoids for disease modelling

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/mu-he

Professor Jiandong Huang

Research interest: Synthetic biology; Vaccines for infectious diseases and cancers; Biological pattern formation; Intracellular transport

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jiandong-huang

Professor Ralf Jauch

Research interest: Protein design; Stem cell engineering; Rejuvenation and Ageing; Modelling diseases with stem cells

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/ralf-jauch

Professor Jung Kim

Research Interest: Systemic stress-induced stem cell dysregulation

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jung-kim

Professor Heidi G.S. Ling

Research interest: Metabolic reprogramming of T cells in chronic inflammatory diseases

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/gsling

Professor Pengtao Liu

Research interest: Stem cells; Genetics and genomics; Developmental Biology; Haematopoiesis and immune cell functions; Cancer cell killers; Cell-based therapies

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/pengtao-liu

Professor Rio R. Sugimura

Research interest: Organoids and Stem Cells; Cell Engineering; Immunology; Cancer Immunotherapy

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/rio-ryohichi-sugimura

Professor Zhongjun Zhou

Research interest: Chromatin architectural alterations in stem cell differentiation; Aging and development

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/zhongjun-zhou

Structural, Chemical and Synthetic Biology

A transdisciplinary understanding of biomolecule function at the atomic level provides insights into the molecular biology underlying all of life and medicine. Our Structural, Chemical and Synthetic Biology programme encompasses studies of structures and dynamics of molecular complexes (structural biology), perturbation of biological systems (chemical biology), and re-engineering biomolecules by rational design and evolution (synthetic biology). Our elite faculty members have deep expertise in these areas - integrating structural biology with functional proteomics, nucleic acid evolution with translational technology, and artificial biological circuits with genome engineering. With cutting-edge technologies, this programme provides students with innovative learning experiences and tools, including CRISPR, CombiSEAL, CombiGEM, machine learning-assisted protein engineering, high-throughput screening, high-throughput sequencing, nucleic acid nanotechnology, X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. These approaches uncover new ways to better understand biology and medicine, and allow translational angles across disease therapeutics, diagnostics and bioengineering.

Contact Persons

Dr. Xiucong Bao

Research interest: Chemical biology; Epigenetics; Proteomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/xiucong-bao

Professor Clive Y.S. Chung

Research interest: Chemical biology; Cancer therapy; Redox biology; Molecular probes; Drug targets and off-targets

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/yik-sham-clive-chung

Professor Ruben Hervas Millan

Research interest: Functional protein aggregation; Functional amyloids; Electron-cryo microscopy; Memory persistence; Cellular memory

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/ruben-hervas-millan

Professor Jiandong Huang

Research interest: Synthetic biology; Vaccines for infectious diseases and cancers; Biological pattern formation; Intracellular transport

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jiandong-huang

Professor Ralf Jauch

Research interest: Protein design; Stem cell engineering; Rejuvenation and Ageing; Modelling diseases with stem cells

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/ralf-jauch

Dr. Andrew B. Kinghorn

Research interest: Aptamers; Directed evolution; Disease diagnosis; Liquid-liquid phase separation; Computational Biology; Emergent complexity; Bioinformatics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/andrew-brian-kinghorn

Professor Sung Chul Kwon

Research interest: RNA biology and genome engineering

Website: http://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/sung-chul-kwon

Professor Pengtao Liu

Research interest: Stem cells; Genetics and genomics; Developmental Biology; Haematopoiesis and immune cell functions; Cancer cell killers; Cell-based therapies

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/pengtao-liu

Professor Yang Liu

Research interest: Epigenetic regulation; Chromatin structures and dynamics; Structural biology; Cancer biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/yang-liu

Professor Tao Ni

Research interest: Structural biology, Cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography; Virology; Macromolecule asssembly

Website: https://www.tni-lab.org/research/

Professor Julian A. Tanner

Research interest: Nucleic acid nanotechnology and chemical biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/julian-alexander-tanner

Professor Jeff S.C. Ti

Research interest: Integrating biochemistry, chemical biology and single-molecule microscopy to dissect the function and organisation of microtubules

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/shih-chieh-jeff-ti

Professor Alan S.L. Wong

Research interest: Genome editing; Protein engineering; Synthetic biology; Combinatorial genetics; Drug target discovery; Disease biology

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/alan-siu-lun-wong

Professor Jason W.H. Wong

Research interest: Cancer genomics; Mutational processes; Epigenetics; Bioinformatics; Proteomics

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/jason-wing-hon-wong

Professor Cheng-Han Yu

Research interest: Cell adhesion and cytoskeleton regulation; Podosome and invadopodium; Mechanobiology; Phosphatidylinositol signalling; Fluorescence microscopy

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/cheng-han-yu

Professor Keda Zhou

Research interest: Epigenetic regulations on chromatin structures in disease, single particle cryo-EM; Biochemistry and biophysics; Protein engineering

Website: https://www.sbms.hku.hk/staff/keda-zhou