• Neural Control of Respiration: (studies with patch-clamp electrophysiology)
• Hypoxia-induced neuronal injury: (studies with patch-clamp electrophysiology)
• Hypoxia: (studies with in-vivo rodent and in-vitro cell models)
• Molecular mechanisms in cardiovascular response to hypoxia: (studies with electrochemistry, spectroflurometry and molecular techniques)

Dr Fung is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong. He graduated in 1993 with Ph.D. from Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth College. Following postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine, he joined The University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in 1996.

He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, reviews or book chapters in international journals. He serves as executive member in the Asia-Pacific Society for Mountain Medicine and in the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine; and also as editorial board member of several peer-reviewed international journals.

My research is focused on the roles of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and nitric oxide (NO) in the functional modulation of the carotid chemoreceptor, neurons and cardiovascular cells under hypoxic conditions, including chronic hypoxia and also in their pathogenic responses to intermittent hypoxia relevant to sleep-disordered breathing.

We demonstrated a significant involvement of NO in the inhibition of calcium-activated potassium channels induced by hypoxia, which could be reversed by scavengers of free radicals.

Also, we have shown the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin and herbal extracts against the adverse effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia on the cardiovascular and central nervous system.

Recently we found that an upregulated RAS expression in the carotid body (in upper panel d, e, f of the figure compared to the control in the lower panel, Lam SY et al. 2014) plays a pathogenic role in the inflammatory cascade induced by intermittent hypoxia.

• Hypoxia: (studies with in-vivo rodent and in-vitro cell models)
  • Acute hypoxia – pathophysiology of cerebrovascular disease (stroke)
  • Chronic hypoxia – altitude acclimation to pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Intermittent hypoxia – exercise training to pathophysiology of sleep apnea
  • Hypoxia preconditioning – cellular adaptive mechanisms against hypoxia
• Hypoxia-induced neuronal injuries: (studies with patch-clamp electrophysiology)
  • Role of voltage-gated sodium channel
  • Role of voltage-gated calcium channel
  • Role of calcium-activated potassium channels
• Mechanisms of diseases: - pathogenic roles of oxidative stress and inflammation (with in-vivo and in-vitro models)
  • Sleep disordered breathing – central/obstructive sleep apnea
  • Pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia
  • Cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypoxia or high fat diet
  • Pathogenic cascade and hepatic injury in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury
  • Brain slices/isolated heart/cultured cells in hypoxic culture/ischemic reperfusion
• Molecular mechanisms in cardiovascular response to hypoxia: (studies with electrochemistry, spectroflurometry and molecular techniques)
  • Roles of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) and HIF-target genes
  • Roles of intracellular calcium handling and calcium homeostasis
  • Roles of melatonin, nitric oxide, oxidative stress, renin-angiotensin system
• Neural control of respiration: (studies with electrophysiology, electrochemistry, spectroflurometry and molecular techniques)
  • Brainstem respiratory network
  • Peripheral carotid chemoreceptor – carotid body and chemoreflex
• Nutritional/Food Supplement/Chinese Medicine – antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties against diseases in cell/rodent models
  • Green tea polyphenols - Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)
  • Garlic-derived S-allylmercaptocysteine
  • Wolfberry (Goji) extract - Lycium barbarum polysaccharides

1. Kang J.J., W.H. Liang, C.S. Lam, X.F. Huang, S.J. Yang, M.T. Wong-Riley, M.L. Fung*, and Y.Y. Liu. Catecholaminergic neurons in synaptic connections with pre-Botzinger complex neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in normoxic and daily acute intermittent hypoxic rats. Experimental Neurology, 287:165-175, 2017. (Impact Factor: 4.7)
2. Lau, O.C., B. Shen, C.O. Wong, Y.W. Tjong, C.Y. Lo, H.C. Wang, Y. Huang, W.H. Yung, Y.C. Chen, M.L. Fung, J.A. Rudd, and X. Yao. TRPC5 channels participate in pressure-sensing in aortic baroreceptors. Nature Communications, 7:11947, 2016. (Impact Factor: 12.1)
3. Yeung, H.M., M.W. Hung, C.F. Lau and M.L. Fung*. Cardioprotective effects of melatonin against myocardial injuries induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats. Journal of Pineal Research, 58(1):12-25, 2015. (Impact Factor: 10.4)
4. Fung, M.L.* (Invited review) Expressions of angiotensin and cytokine receptors in the paracrine signaling of the carotid body in hypoxia and sleep apnea. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 209: 6-12, 2015. (Impact Factor: 1.66)
5. Fung, M.L.* (Invited review) The role of local renin-angiotensin system in arterial chemoreceptorsin sleep-breathing disorders. Frontiers in Physiology, 5:336, 2014. (Impact Factor: 4.1)
6. Hung, M.W., G.M. Kravtsov, C.F. Lau, A.M.S. Poon, G.L. Tipoe and M.L. Fung*. Melatonin ameliorates endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation and systemic hypertension in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia. Journal of Pineal Research, 55:247-256, 2013. (Impact Factor: 10.4)
7. Fung, M.L.*, G.L. Tipoe, and P.S. Leung. Paracrine-autocrine mechanisms in the carotid body function at high altitude and in disease. Advances in High-Altitude Medicine and Hypoxic Physiology in China, Edited by Sean Sanders, Fan Ming. Science (Suppl), 66-68, 2012.
8. Hung, M.W., G.L. Tipoe, A.M.S. Poon, R.J. Reiter, and M.L. Fung*. Protective effect of melatonin against hippocampal injury of rats with intermittent hypoxia. Journal of Pineal Research, 44: 214-221, 2008. (Impact Factor:10.4)
9. Tjong, Y.W., M. Li, M.W. Hung, and M.L. Fung*. Melatonin ameliorates hippocampal nitric oxide production and large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel activity in chronic intermittent hypoxia. Journal of Pineal Research, 44: 234-243, 2008. (Impact Factor: 10.4)
10. Yeung, H.M., M.W. Hung, and M.L. Fung*. Melatonin ameliorates calcium homeostasis in myocardial and ischemia-reperfusion injury in chronically hypoxic rats. Journal of Pineal Research, 45:373-382, 2008. (Impact Factor: 10.4)

* Corresponding author

• GRF project: Pathophysiological roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the carotid body in intermittent hypoxia
• GRF project: Renin-angiotensin system in the carotid body: its expression and functional implications in intermittent hypoxia
• NSFC- GRF project: Mechanistic role of protein S-nitrosylation pathway in cellular responses to oxygen signaling
• GRF project: Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying anatomical and physiological adaptation of the carotid body in chronic hypoxia: role of HIF-1 and its target genes
• GRF project: Angiotensin II receptors in the carotid body: its function and expression in perinatal and postnatal hypoxia
• GRF project: The role of voltage-gated Na+ channels in central neurons during hypoxia

Senior author of abstracts received awards at international symposia and meetings.:

• 2014 Young Investigator Award (oral presentation) at the Ninth International Symposium on Healthy Aging
  • C.S. Lam, G.L. Tipoe, R.C. Chang, K.F. So, K.H. Cheung, Y.S. Chan, M.L. Fung. Neuroprotective mechanisms of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides against spatial memory impairment induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia.
• 2013 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 17th ICSM meeting
  • C.S. Lam, G.L. Tipoe, R.C.C. Chang, K.F. So, Y.S. Chan, K.H. Cheung, M.L. Fung. Mechanistic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides against rat hippocampal injuries induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia.
• 2013 Poster presentation Award at the 2013 International Symposium on Physiomics & Taiwan-HK Physiology Symposium
  • C.S. Lam, G.L. Tipoe, R.C.C. Chang, K.F. So, Y.S. Chan, K.H. Cheung, M.L. Fung. Mechanisms of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides against spatial memory deficits in rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia.
• 2012 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 16th ICSM meeting
  • C.S. Lam, G.L. Tipoe, R.C. Chang, K.F. So, K.H. Cheung, M.L. Fung. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides mitigate chronic intermittent hypoxia induced hippocampal oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in rats.
• 2012 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 16th ICSM meeting
  • J. Pan, J. Xiao, G.L. Tipoe, Y. Huang, M.L. Fung. Telmisartan ameliorates oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver of rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia.
• 2012 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 7th HBHA meeting
  • Y. Liu, J. Xiao, G.L. Tipoe, Y. Huang, M.L. Fung. Blockade of renin-angiotensin system attenuates local inflammation induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia in rat adrenal medulla.
• 2011 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 15th ICSM meeting
  • Y. Liu, M.L. Fung. Involvement of NADPH oxidase and renin-angiotensin system in tissue inflammation of the rat adrenal medulla during intermittent hypoxia.
• 2008 Young Investigator Award (poster presentation) at the 12th ICSM meeting
  • H.M. Yeung, M.W. Hung, G.M. Kravtsov, M.L. Fung. Chronic intermittent hypoxia elevates oxidative stress and impairs calcium homeostasis in rat cardiomyocytes.
• 2007 Best Paper Award (Oral presentation) at the 11th ICSM meeting
  • H.M. Yeung, M.W. Hung, M.L. Fung. Cardioprotective effect of melatonin on impaired calcium homeostasis, myocardial and ischemia-reperfusion injuries in chronically hypoxic rats.
• 2006 Best Oral Presentation Young Investigators Award in the 1st International Symposium on Healthy Aging
  • H.M. Yeung, T.M. Wong, M.L. Fung. Calcium handling mechanism of cardioprotection induced by intermittent hypoxia in rat cardiomyocytes against ischemia/reperfusion injury.
• 2005 Scholarship of the International Society of Heart Research at the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth of West Australia
  • H.M. Yeung, T.M. Wong, M.L. Fung. Intermittent hypoxia improves calcium homeostasis in rat cardiomyocytes and confers cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury.
• 2005 Sir Alastair Currie (1st) poster prize at the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland
  • T.Y.H. Lau, G.L. Tipoe, M.L. Fung, E. Liong, H. So, L.C. Liao, K.M. Leung, A.A. Nanji. Nuclear transcriptional factors and hypoxia-inducible genes mediate the hepatic vascular adaptive response to chronic hypoxia
• 2003 Certificate of Merit at the 8th RPG Symposium, HKU
  • Y.W. Tjong, M.F. Li, T.M. Gao, M.L. Fung. Involvement of nitric oxide pathways in hippocampal calcium response to hypoxia.

• Honorary Treasurer (2014-present) of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine
• Organization Committee Member (2011-present) of the Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences
• Executive Committee member (2008-present) of the Asia-Pacific Society for Mountain Medicine
• Honorary Secretary (2003-2007) of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Medicine 

• Journal on Advanced Physiology Research
• Translational Respiratory Medicine
• Dataset Papers in Biology
• Adaptive Medicine Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology
• Recent Patent Reviews on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery
• Open Biochemistry Journal
• Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal
• Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
• Drug Targets - Cardiovascular and Hematological Disorders