• Haematopoiesis and Immune cell functions, Stem cell, Epigenetics, Maternal–fetal tolerance

• 2006.9 – 2010.7    B.Sc., Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, China
• 2010.9 – 2014.7    M.Sc., Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• 2014.9 – 2017.7    Ph.D., Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• 2017.12 – 2022.1  Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Genetics, and Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
• 2023.2 – 2025.1   Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• 2025.2 – Present  Research Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can give rise to all types of blood cells. HSCs are responsible for the lifelong production of blood cells through a process called haematopoiesis. They are used in medical treatments such as bone marrow transplantation to treat diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and certain genetic disorders. We are using advanced technologies, that includes single cell sequencing, organoids, stem cell differentiation, humanized mouse models, to address critical challenges in regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, and prenatal diagnosis.  

1. Functional HSCs generation from pluripotent stem cells 
Previously, we studied HSCs development in genetic modified mouse model (Science Advances, 2022). Now we are developing technology to generate HSCs from human pluripotent stem cell through haematopoietic organoid model. This approach could provide an unlimited source of HSCs for transplantation, addressing the critical shortage of donor-matched HSCs for patients with blood disorders like leukemia, lymphoma, and genetic diseases.

2. Ex vivo expansion of HSCs 
Insufficient number of HSCs is the key problem for transplantation and therapies. We are performing high-throughput drugs screening to identify compounds that can promote HSCs expansion without compromising their stemness or introducing genetic instability. We will identify compounds and develop systems to safely and stably expand HSCs ex vivo.

3. HSC-Derived Immune Cells for Cancer Therapy
HSC-derived immune cells offer a renewable source for engineered cell therapies, potentially improving accessibility and reducing costs compared to patient-derived cells. We are using HSCs from hPSCs or patient blood to generate (chimeric antigen receptor) CAR-T and CAR-NK cells with enhanced anti-tumor activities. 

4. Circulating Non-blood Cells for Prenatal Diagnosis and Disease Prediction
Circulating non-blood cells (GNBCs) shed from organs into the blood stream carry critical information about the state of the originating tissue, offering a non-invasive alternative to biopsies. We are developing technologies to capture and analyze CNBCs for prenatal diagnosis and organ health monitoring. These GNBCs will be used for prenatal diagnosis (fetal cells capture) and disease prediction (organ health (e.g., liver, lung). 
 

1. Jia W, Ma L (Co- First authors), Yu X, Wang F, Yang Q, Wang XY, Fan MJ, Gu Y, Meng R, Wang J, Li YX, Li R, Shao X, Wang YL. Human CD56+CD39+ dNK cells support fetal survival through controlling trophoblastic cell fate: immune mechanisms of recurrent early pregnancy loss. National Science Review, 2024, PMID: 38966071; PMCID: PMC11223582.  
2. MacArthur IC, Ma L, Huang CY, Bhavsar H, Suzuki M, Dawlaty MM. Developmental DNA demethylation is a determinant of neural stem cell identity and gliogenic competence. Sci Adv.  2024 Aug 30;10(35):eado5424. PMID: 39196941; PMCID: PMC11352921.
3.  Ma L, Tang Q, Gao X, Lee J, Lei R, Suzuki M, Zheng D, Ito K, Frenette PS, Dawlaty MM. Tet-mediated DNA demethylation regulates specification of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during mammalian embryogenesis. Sci Adv. 2022 Mar 4;8(9): eabm3470, PMID: 35235365; PMCID: PMC8890710.
4. Ravichandran M, Lei R, Tang Q, Zhao Y, Lee J, Ma L, Chrysanthou S, Lorton BM, Cvekl A, Shechter D, Zheng D, Dawlaty MM. Rinf Regulates Pluripotency Network Genes and Tet Enzymes in Embryonic Stem Cells. Cell Rep. 2019 Aug 20;28(8):1993-2003.e5, PMID: 31433977; PMCID: PMC6716522.
5. Ma L, Li G, Cao G, Zhu Y, Du MR, Zhao Y, Wang H, Liu Y, Yang Y, Li YX, Li DJ, Yang H, Wang YL. dNK cells facilitate the interaction between trophoblastic and endothelial cells via VEGF-C and HGF. Immunol Cell Biol. 2017 Sep;95(8):695-704, PMID: 28653669.
6. Li G, Ma L, Lu H, Cao G, Shao X, Liu Y, Li YX, Liu M, Yang H, Wang YL. Transactivation of Met signaling by semaphorin4D in human placenta: implications for the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. J Hypertens. 2018 Nov;36(11):2215-2225, PMID: 29939944.
7. Li G, Ma L, Lin L, Wang YL, Yang H. The intervention effect of aspirin on a lipopolysaccharide-induced preeclampsia-like mouse model by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB pathway. Biol Reprod. 2018 Aug 1;99(2):422-432, PMID: 29718107.
8. Shao X, Liu Y, Liu M, Wang Y, Yan L, Wang H, Ma L, Li YX, Zhao Y, Wang YL. Testosterone Represses Estrogen Signaling by Upregulating miR-22: A Mechanism for Imbalanced Steroid Hormone Production in Preeclampsia. Hypertension. 2017 Apr;69(3):721-730, PMID: 28193709.
9. Peng B, Zhu H, Klausen C, Ma L, Wang YL, Leung PC. GnRH regulates trophoblast invasion via RUNX2-mediated MMP2/9 expression. Mol Hum Reprod. 2016 Feb;22(2):119-29, PMID: 26660506; PMCID: PMC4733226. 
10. Peng B, Zhu H, Ma L, Wang YL, Klausen C, Leung PC. AP-1 Transcription Factors c-FOS and c-JUN Mediate GnRH-Induced Cadherin-11 Expression and Trophoblast Cell Invasion. Endocrinology. 2015 Jun;156(6):2269-77, PMID: 25794160.

• Please directly email Dr. Liyang Ma (maly23@hku.hk) for project details and opportunities.

• 2020 - Einstein Stem Cell Institute Training Grant from NYSDOH/NYSTEM.
• 2016 -The Elsevier New Investigator Travel Awards (IFPA international conference)