Date: Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Venue: Cheung Kung Hai Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong (Mixed mode: Face-to-Face and Zoom)

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Zoom Link: https://hku.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqfuCrrjoiH9aMv6vX6wG1YeGp8B4fr382

Meeting ID: 917 9930 1852

Password: 454309

Speaker: Dr. Ting XIE, Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Title: Adult Stem Cell Development: Stories of Two Niches

Biography

Dr. Ting Xie is Kerry Holdings Professor of Science, Chair Professor and the head of Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Before moving to Hong Kong, he was an investigator at Stowers Institute for Medical Research and a professor in University of Kansas Medical Center. He obtained his PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Rutgers University, and did his postdoctoral training in Howard Hughes Medical Institute/Carnegie Institution of Science. His main research areas include stem cell biology and eye degenerative diseases. He is one of the leaders and pioneers in studying stem cell niches. Dr. Xie has published over 70 articles in high-profile journals, including Science, Nature and Cell.  He has been serving on the scientific advisory board of The Glaucoma Foundation and on the editorial board of Cell Research, Development and eight other scientific journals.

Abstract

Stem cells in adult tissues undergo self-renewal and generate differentiated cells that replenish the lost cells caused by natural turnover, injury or disease. The molecular mechanisms regulating stem cells are also critical for regenerative medicine and fighting against cancer and aging. Dr. Xie has been using germline stem cells in the Drosophila ovary as a model system to elucidate niche structures and functions as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying self-renewal, differentiation, and aging. Dr. Xie was the first to experimentally demonstrate the existence of the stem cell niche. Recently, his lab has also proposed a distinct niche known as the differentiation niche for controlling stem cell lineage specification. In addition, his lab has elucidated how the two niches work together to control stem cell development and thus tissue regeneration. Furthermore, his lab has demonstrated the roles of various signaling pathways (BMP, Hh, Wnt, Netrin and Notch), cadherin-mediated cell adhesion, epigenetic factors, non-coding RNAs, RNA modifications and various protein complexes (COP9, CCR4-NOT and eIF4) in the regulation of self-renewal and differentiation. In addition to stem cell biology, his lab has begun using mice to study molecular mechanisms and stem cell therapy for retinal degenerating diseases.

ALL ARE WELCOME

Should you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact Miss River Wong at 3917 9216.