Team Members
Prof. Chan Wood Yee Woody
Co-Director of CNRM,
Professor and Associate Director,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Chan Wood Yee Woody
Co-Director of CNRM,
Professor and Associate Director,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chan laboratory has a long research history on the early development of the central and enteric nervous systems. More recent efforts are devoted to the study of the migration and differentiation of neural crest stem cells and Schwann cell precursors derived from iPSCs. Specifically, the potential application of neural crest-like Schwann cell precursors for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries is being studied, focusing on the genetic and epigenetic controls of cellular migration, proliferation and differentiation.
Relevant research interests and expertise: central and enteric nervous system development, genetic and epigenetic regulation of migration, proliferation and differentiation of neural crest stem cells and glial cells, stem cell-based therapy for congenital disorders and peripheral nerve diseases https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-chan-wood-yee
Email: wy-chan@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Yung Shu-hang Patrick
Director of CNRM,
Associate Dean (Mainland Affairs),
Faculty of Medicine,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Yung Shu-hang Patrick
Director of CNRM,
Associate Dean (Mainland Affairs),
Faculty of Medicine,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Patrick Yung is a world recognized leader in the field of orthopaedic sports medicine, with particular contributions to arthroscopy and the advancement of regenerative therapies in orthopaedics and traumatology. In addition to being a keen researcher and educator, he is also committed to medical service for amateur and professional sport communities in Hong Kong, China, & overseas. His research focus is on knee, shoulder, ankle and hip sports injuries. He has established a well-organized clinical trials infrastructure at CUHK which will enable the translation of reparative technologies developed in CNRM to clinical application. The current set-up, which is focused on osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff repair, will be further adopted for other neuromusculoskeletal clinical trials, specifically those involving mesenchymal stem cells, biologics and biomaterials, which may be prepared using the faciltities at the soon-to-be-completed CUHK GMP facility.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Clinical studies on arthroscopic surgery and sport medicine; human kinematic studies, animal studies of bone-to-tendon healing, including ACLR graft healing and rotator cuff repair, orthopaedic application of adult mesenchymal stem cells https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-patrickyung.html
Email: patrickyung@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Anna Blocki
Associate Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Anna Blocki
Associate Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The macromolecular crowding technology developed by Dr. Blocki represents a novel and efficient method for the preparation of cell-specific extracellular matrix (ECM). Her CNRM project will utilize this technology to prepare 3D-printed, bio-instructive mesenchymal stem cell-derived ECM-loaded hydrogels with anti-inflammatory, pro- angiogenic and neuro-regenerative properties within a degradable natural hydrogel toregenerate vascularized tissues, particularly in diabetic wounds. This technology has general applicability for other projects in the CNRM.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Extracellular matrix, microenvironment, natural biomaterials, stem cell biology, cell-based therapy, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, inflammation, angiogenesis, neuro-regeneration, mechanobiology https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-blocki-anna-maria
Email: anna.blocki@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Chan Hon Fai
Associate Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Chan Hon Fai
Associate Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Chan has developed innovative microfluidic technologies to perform 3D spheroid culture of mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes and examined the functional role of specific extracellular matrix components. He will be applying his expertise to establish a microphysiological system containing a 3D human skeletal muscle tissue (3DSM) by culturing primary human myoblast in a fibrin-based hydrogel for a biomimetic platform drug toxicity testing.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Tissue engineering, stem cell, regenerative medicine, microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip, biomaterial, micro-/nano-technology https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-chan-hon-fai-vivas
Email: honfaichan@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Chan Wood Yee Woody
Co-Director of CNRM,
Professor and Associate Director,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Chan Wood Yee Woody
Co-Director of CNRM,
Professor and Associate Director,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chan laboratory has a long research history on the early development of the central and enteric nervous systems. More recent efforts are devoted to the study of the migration and differentiation of neural crest stem cells and Schwann cell precursors derived from iPSCs. Specifically, the potential application of neural crest-like Schwann cell precursors for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries is being studied, focusing on the genetic and epigenetic controls of cellular migration, proliferation and differentiation.
Relevant research interests and expertise: central and enteric nervous system development, genetic and epigenetic regulation of migration, proliferation and differentiation of neural crest stem cells and glial cells, stem cell-based therapy for congenital disorders and peripheral nerve diseases https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-chan-wood-yee
Email: wy-chan@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Choi Chung Hang Jonathan
Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Choi Chung Hang Jonathan
Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Choi’s lab explores how nanoparticles interact with the living system across the length scales of organs, tissues, cell, and organelles, and designs novel bionanomaterials for treating diseases arisen from various biological locations in vivo. The lab addresses the bottleneck of nanomedicine by characterizing organ-, tissue-, and cellular-level distribution of nanoparticles to gain mechanistic insights into how nanoparticles interact with the biological system for the development of design rules for building nanoparticles that can specifically target defined biological destinations. Professor Choi was a recipient of the Croucher Innovation Award.
Relevant research interests and expertise: “Bio-nano” interactions, nanomedicine, bionanomaterials, targeted delivery, nucleic acids-based bioreagents http://www.bme.cuhk.edu.hk/new/choip.php
Email: jchchoi@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Jiang Yangzi
Assistant Professor,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
Orthopaedics & Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Jiang Yangzi
Assistant Professor,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
Orthopaedics & Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Jiang laboratory is involved in creating tissue regeneration strategies for the musculoskeletal system, especially bone and cartilage. Her previous work has identified and characterized the stem/progenitor cells in cartilage (Nat Rev Rheum, 2015) and signaling pathways in osteoarthritis (Arthr Res Ther, 2015), information that has been applied to instruct the production of stem cell-based functional tissue replacements for clinical use, including the repair of osteochondral defect (Stem Cells Transl Med, 2016), classified as Class II Therapeutics in China (J Orthop Transl, 2014). Recent work has focused on NGF mediated signaling changes in osteoarthritis and the role of tissue-specific stem cells (FASEB J, 2019).
Relevant research interests and expertise: Development of therapeutic strategies for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, mechanism of degenerative and inflammatory diseases, cell-based therapy and translational medicine https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-jiang-yangzi
Email: yangzjiang21@cuhk.edu.hk
Dr. Law Sheung Wai
Assistant Dean (Health Systems),
Faculty of Medicine
Clinical Professional Consultant,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Law Sheung Wai
Assistant Dean (Health Systems),
Faculty of Medicine
Clinical Professional Consultant,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr Law ‘s professional interests include Orthopedic Rehabilitation- coordination of care for elderly with fragility fractures, management of osteoporosis, work rehabilitation and return to work management for injured workers, rehabilitation technology and spine surgery His CNRM project aims to engineer an exosome delivery system loaded with rapamycin as a potential cell-free modality for the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Work Rehabilitation, Fragility Fracture, Osteoporosis, Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture, Musculoskeletal Chronic Pain Management
Clinical Expertise: Spine, Orthopaedics Rehabilitation https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-swlaw_sc.html
Email: lawsw@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Lee Yuk-wai, Wayne
Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
Site Authorized Person, ATP GMP Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Limited,
Investigator of Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences,
Director of Joint Scoliosis Research Centre of CUHK
Nanjing University and SH Ho Scoliosis Research Laboratory,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Lee Yuk-wai, Wayne
Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
Site Authorized Person, ATP GMP Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology Limited,
Investigator of Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences,
Director of Joint Scoliosis Research Centre of CUHK
Nanjing University and SH Ho Scoliosis Research Laboratory,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Relevant research interests and expertise: Wayne’s research can be divided into two major areas of orthopaedic with important clinical relevance. The first line focuses on the development of GMP-grade cell therapy to treat osteoarthritis and other neuromusculoskeletal problems. He is a registered authorized person for advanced therapy product in Hong Kong. The second line is on the biological roles of osteocyte in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and musculoskeletal aging. His team has created advanced research platforms to study osteocytes, aiming to explore novel therapeutic approaches by targeting these long-living bone cells. https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-waynelee_c.html
Email: waynelee@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Li Zhong Alan
Assistant Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Li Zhong Alan
Assistant Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Relevant research interests and expertise: Our lab utilizes advanced biomaterials (hydrogels and nanomaterials), human stem cells (MSCs and iPSCs), and novel fabrication processes and culture platforms to engineer tissues for (1) the regeneration of diseased musculoskeletal and neural tissues, and (2) modeling human diseases to understand pathological mechanisms and testing potential drugs. We are particularly interested in developing organ-on-a-chip systems as in vitro platforms to study patient-specific (patho)physiology and evaluate personalized therapeutics. https://lilabcuhk.com/lab-pi/
Email: alanli@cuhk.edu.hk
Dr. Ling Ka-Kin Samuel
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Ling Ka-Kin Samuel
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr Ling is an Orthopaedic Surgeon with a clinical subspeciality in Foot and Ankle Surgery. He heads the Foot and Ankle Surgery team at the Prince of Wales Hospital (the teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, CUHK), which caters to all foot and ankle diseases, from forefoot deformities to acute trauma. Dr Ling has a research focus on Achilles Tendinopathy, Ankle Instability and Hallux Valgus. https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-samuelling.html
Email: samuel.ling@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Lu Gang
Senior Research Fellow,
Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Lu Gang
Senior Research Fellow,
Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The laboratory is interested in neural regeneration and translational research, stem cell biology, including maintenance of pluripotency and gene editing of reprogrammed iPSCs, mechanisms governing neurite outgrowth, gait-based performance analysis of neurological dysfunction and deficits, development of cell therapeutic strategies for clinical application, and innovative technologies for disease diagnosis, e.g., biomarkers for neurological diseases
Relevant research interests and expertise: Neural regeneration and translational research, stem cell biology and development, cell therapeutic strategies for clinical application, innovative technologies for disease diagnosis, e.g., biomarkers for neurological diseases https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-lu-gang
Email: lugang@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Lui Po Yee Pauline
Associate Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Lui Po Yee Pauline
Associate Professor,
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Our laboratory has a rich history of studying the pathogenesis and treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, particularly in the areas of tendinopathy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). We have demonstrated that the aberrant differentiation of tendon-derived stem/progenitor cells (TDSCs) contributes to failed tendon healing. We are developing various strategies, including stem cell-based therapies, to promote the healing of tendons and ligaments. Our laboratory places a strong emphasis on translational research, and we actively conduct and validate our bench-top findings in clinical settings.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Pathogenesis of tendinopathy; TDSC differentiation; graft healing in ACLR; stem cell-based therapy for tendon and ligament injury; tendon tissue engineering and regeneration; clinical trials of tendon injury, ACLR, and osteoarthritis https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-paulinelui.html
Email: paulinelui@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Tuan Sung Chi Rocky
Professor,
Lee Quo Wei and Lee Yick Hoi Lun Professor of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Tuan Sung Chi Rocky
Professor,
Lee Quo Wei and Lee Yick Hoi Lun Professor of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
A well-established and highly recognized investigator in stem cells, developmental biology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, Prof. Tuan brings to CNRM his considerable experience in biomedical research and consortial team management. In addition to his major contributions to skeletal tissue engineering, nano- biomaterials, and molecular stem cell derivation and differentiation, Prof. Tuan’s recent innovative nerve engineering work (Biomaterials, 2019) combines mesenchymal stem cells, their paracrine signaling, and the application of an electrospun aligned nanofibrous biomaterial scaffold to repair degenerated peripheral nerve, representing a significant strength of the CNRM. Additional work has also uncovered the bioactivities of cell-derived extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells and their potential therapeutic applications.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Stem cell sourcing, differentiation, and therapeutic application; biomimetic biomaterial fabrication and application; skeletal development https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/governance/officers/rocky-tuan/english/biography.html
Email: tuanr@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Wan Chao
Associate Professor,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Wan Chao
Associate Professor,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Wan laboratory has extensive experience in molecular and cellular mechanisms of the oxygen sensing and growth factor pathways in skeletal development, degeneration and regeneration, and discovery of novel therapies for skeletal repair or regeneration. His CNRM project will target the energy metabolism pathway to investigate the precise conditions controlling the fate of chondroprogenitors for the design of 3D bioprinting- based engineering of cartilage that prevents chondrocyte hypertrophy both in vitro and in vivo.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Stem cell biology, tissue engineering, drug development, skeletal and cartilage development, metabolism and regeneration https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-wan-chao
Email: cwan@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Wang Dan Michelle
Assistant Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Wang Dan Michelle
Assistant Professor,
Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine,
School of Biomedical Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Wang has published experience in osteoimmunology, cell-matrix interactions, and regenerative medicine in bone-tendon tissue unit repair, illustrated by her recent work on the signaling mechanism of tendon extracellular matrix to induce tenogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells (FASEB J, 2020). Her CNRM project will apply her experience in damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from stressed cells and damaged extracellular matrix to design a DAMP-targeting, pro-regenerative hydrogel matrix to treat both early stage and chronic tendon degeneration, a major clinical challenge in musculoskeletal medicine.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Stem cell biology, extracellular matrix biology, cell-based therapy, tissue engineering, osteoimmunology, biomaterials https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-wang-dan-michelle
Email: wangmd@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Wang Huating
Professor,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Wang Huating
Professor,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Dr. Wang’s laboratory has longstanding interest in studying gene regulatory mechanisms using skeletal muscle cells and cancer cells as model systems. Current studies focus on the functional roles of non-coding RNAs in regulating gene expression in skeletal muscle stem cells and muscle regeneration. Her CNRM project will study how histone- alteration changes in skeletal muscle tissue drive remodeling of gene enhancers and muscle stem cell niche environment, and to characterize changes of transcriptome, chromatin accessibility and histone modifications in muscle stem cells from aging mouse. Additional focus will be on how caloric restriction and exercise may improve aging muscle stem cell function through modulating the above epigenetic hallmarks in mouse.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Skeletal muscle regeneration, muscle stem cell, gene regulation, non-coding RNAs https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-wanghuating.html
Email: huating.wang@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Yung Shu-hang Patrick
Director of CNRM,
Associate Dean (Mainland Affairs),
Faculty of Medicine,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Yung Shu-hang Patrick
Director of CNRM,
Associate Dean (Mainland Affairs),
Faculty of Medicine,
Professor and Chairman,
Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Patrick Yung is a world recognized leader in the field of orthopaedic sports medicine, with particular contributions to arthroscopy and the advancement of regenerative therapies in orthopaedics and traumatology. In addition to being a keen researcher and educator, he is also committed to medical service for amateur and professional sport communities in Hong Kong, China, & overseas. His research focus is on knee, shoulder, ankle and hip sports injuries. He has established a well-organized clinical trials infrastructure at CUHK which will enable the translation of reparative technologies developed in CNRM to clinical application. The current set-up, which is focused on osteoarthritis and anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff repair, will be further adopted for other neuromusculoskeletal clinical trials, specifically those involving mesenchymal stem cells, biologics and biomaterials, which may be prepared using the faciltities at the soon-to-be-completed CUHK GMP facility.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Clinical studies on arthroscopic surgery and sport medicine; human kinematic studies, animal studies of bone-to-tendon healing, including ACLR graft healing and rotator cuff repair, orthopaedic application of adult mesenchymal stem cells https://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/staff-patrickyung.html
Email: patrickyung@cuhk.edu.hk
Prof. Anna Falk
Associate Professor,
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Anna Falk
Associate Professor,
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Anna Falk Taking the next step towards personalized medicine, Dr. Falk has established a world class iPSC facility, allowing for patient-derived iPSC derivation for disease modeling, ex-vivo gene editing and as an ethically clean source of defined pluripotent stem cells. Importantly Dr. Falk derived a stable intermediate between pluripotent stem cells and neurons, that can be cultured long-term without losing the ability to differentiate to neurons and glia, so called NeuroEpithelial Stem (NES). In her research, Dr. Falk successfully used NES cells in pre-clinical transplantations into spinal cord injured mice, which resulted in functional recovery of hind limb motor function in addition to maturation and integration of transplanted neurons into the circuitry. Dr. Falk will provide defined pluripotent stem cells and NES cells to the project, she will help to establish new patient-derived lines and develop and standardize the technology necessary for clinical studies.
Academic profile of KI PI
FALK, Anna, Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet; Director, iPS Core facility, Karolinska Institutet. Relevant research interests and expertise: Reprogramming of somatic cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, regenerative medicine, GMP iPS cell lines, 2D cultures and 3D organoids of the human neural system, neurons and glia. https://medarbetare.ki.se/people/anna-falk
Email: anna.falk@ki.se
Prof. Bertrand Joseph
Professor,
Toxicology Unit, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Bertrand Joseph
Professor,
Toxicology Unit, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Bertrand Joseph – Dr Joseph is a Professor in Molecular Cancer Biology, Docent in Molecular Cell Biology and Head of the Toxicology Unit at the Institute of environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. Over the years, his team has been working in several fields of research from the investigations of the cell death signaling pathways to the molecular mechanism controlling cell differentiation. In addition, these investigations were performed in various models of human diseases ranging from cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders to neurodegenerative disorders. His team discovered that autophagy is regulated by epigenetics and contributed to the concept of histone onco-modification. Dr Joseph has more than 15 years of experience working in the field of microglia, and an international recognition. Highlights of his research include the discovery of a role for killer caspases in microglia pro-inflammatory and tumor-supporting phenotypes and a contribution to the understanding of the transcriptional/epigenetic regulation of microglial activation states and the possibility to reprogram microglia toward distinct phenotypes. Lately, Dr Joseph has been arguing for the concept of microglia diversity, i.e., the existence of microglial subtypes.
Academic profile of KI PI
JOSEPH Bertrand, Ph.D. (Karolinska institutet) Professor, Toxicology Unit, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: CNS disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, brain tumors, microglia, neuroinflammation, cell death, autophagy, epigenetics. https://ki.se/en/imm/bertrand-joseph-research-group
Email: bertrand.joseph@ki.se
Prof. Chen Sijie
Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Chen Sijie
Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Sijie Chen has established expertise in the development of luminescent bioprobes for biolabeling, bio-staining, bio-microenvironment mapping, bioimaging and diagnostics. Employing chemical synthesis and characterization, nanomaterial fabrication, luminescent materials development, AIE (Aggregation-induced emission) probe design, bioimaging and biosensing, Dr. Chen will develop new oxygen sensing platforms that will help monitoring oxygen levels in cell cultures, engineered tissues and disease models.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Luminescent materials, fluorescent biosensors, fluorescence imaging, nanomaterials, mechanobiology, fluorescent dyes. https://ki.se/en/research/sijie-chen
Email: sijie.chen@ki.se
Prof. Christian Göritz
Associate Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Christian Göritz
Associate Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Christian Göritz Research in the laboratory of Dr. Göritz has been focusing on the endogenous repair mechanisms and the limitations of repair in the central nervous system (CNS). He discovered a small subset of perivascular cells as the cellular origin of fibrotic tissue and demonstrated perivascular-derived fibrosis as important obstacle for CNS regeneration. Fibrotic tissue formation occurs after different kind of lesions and can impair functional implantation of cell grafts and biomaterials. To overcome the limitations by fibrotic tissue formation Dr. Göritz will develop an approach allowing the direct reprogramming of fibrotic cells into cells lost due to injury or disease. His project will provide novel mechanistic insights into fibrotic scarring, identify reprogramming factors that allow the conversion of scar forming fibroblasts into remyelinating oligodendrocytes and provide a potential therapeutic strategy to modulate scar tissue formation and promote axonal regeneration, myelination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Importantly, the project will facilitate intensive cross collaboration, addressing an aspect (scar formation) that is relevant for the success of biomaterial and cell transplantation approaches.
Academic profile of KI PI
GÖRITZ, Christian, Ph.D. (CNRS/Max Planck) Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: Central nervous system scar formation, fibrosis, tissue repair, nerve fiber regeneration, adult neurogenesis, stem cell biology, reparative medicine special focus on spinal cord injuries, inflammation. https://ki.se/en/research/christian-goritz
Email: christian.goeritz@ki.se
Prof. Enric Llorens-Bobadilla
Assistant Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Enric Llorens-Bobadilla
Assistant Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Assistant Professor. Enric Llorens-Bobadilla The lab of Dr. Llorens is interested in the use and development of genomics technologies to understand and promote central nervous system regeneration. Dr. Llorens research has uncovered a strategy for how they can be modulated to promote endogenous cell replacement and some recovery in mice through myelin repair. In the currently proposed project, together with Prof. Frisén, he will characterize spinal cord stem cells by single cell genomics to search for latent neurogenic programs that can be activated to promote the replacement of neurons that are lost after spinal cord injury.
Academic profile of KI PI
LLORENS-BOBADILLA, Enric, Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Assistant Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: central nervous system, single cells and spatial genomics, glial cells, spinal cord injury, regenerative medicine. https://ki.se/en/research/groups/systems-regenerative-neurobiology-enric-llorens-group
Email: enric.llorens@ki.se
Prof. Eva Hedlund
Associate Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Eva Hedlund
Associate Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Eva Hedlund and her team is investigating mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability and resilience in motor neuron disease with a particular focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Towards this purpose they have developed a technique, LCM-seq, to analyze the transcriptomes of cell somas, isolated from partially degraded tissues. They now apply LCM-seq to reveal the response of individual neurons to disease. The Hedlund team are also using induced pluripotent stem cells to generate in vitro model of the human neuromuscular junction which is an early pathological target in ALS. Here they also interrogate the transcriptomes of axons in health and ALS with a technique, Axon-seq, they recently developed to reveal early pathological changes. Her research is expected to reveal important information on the cellular and molecular disease mechanisms of ALS.
Academic profile of KI PI
HEDLUND, Eva, Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability and resistance with the goal of identifying new molecular targets for the treatment of motor neuron diseases. https://staff.ki.se/people/eva-hedlund
Email: eva.hedlund@ki.se
Prof. Jonas Frisén
Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Jonas Frisén
Professor,
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Jonas Frisén Dr. Frisén is a world-leading expert in the fields of neural stem cells, neurogenesis and regeneration. Dr. Frisén has identified neural stem cell in the adult spinal cord, characterized their function after spinal cord injury and devised a strategy for how they can be modulated to promote some recovery in mice. Dr. Frisén has also unveiled the role of pericytes in the formation of fibrotic scar tissue after CNS injury and how astrocytes can take on neural stem cell properties and replace neurons after stroke. He has, furthermore, devised a method for the analysis of cell generation in humans that takes advantage of the integration of 14C from nuclear bomb tests. This has enabled his group to map the generation of for example neurons and oligodendrocytes in the adult human brain in health and disease. In the currently proposed project he will characterize spinal cord stem cells by single cell genomics to search for latent neurogenic programs that can be activated to promote the replacement of neurons that are lost after spinal cord injury.
Academic profile of KI PI
FRISÈN, Jonas, M.D., Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: central nervous system, neural stem cells, neurogenesis, spinal cord injury, regenerative medicine. https://ki.se/en/people/jonas-frisen
Email: jonas.frisen@ki.se
Prof. Li Linxian
Associate Professor,
Department of Surgery,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Li Linxian
Associate Professor,
Department of Surgery,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Linxian Li is working to overcome this bottleneck. He has an extensive record on developing delivery technology for mRNA therapeutics. His group is developing lipid nanoparticles as mRNA carrier, made of natural phospholipids from our own cell membrane to mimic the natural endocytosis and endosome escape process. Dr. Li uses combinatorial chemical libraries and high throughput screening to identify new components for his lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA into the cell of interest. His delivery system will facilitate targeted gene therapy and stem cell differentiation to for treating genetic disorders of neuromuscular disease.
Relevant research interests and expertise: biomedical engineering, biomaterials, RNA delivery therapeutics, fabricated microarrays as high-throughput screening tools, tissue engineering, organic chemistry https://ki.se/en/research/linxian-li
Email: linxian.li@ki.se
Prof. Sandra Ceccatelli
Professor,
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Sandra Ceccatelli
Professor,
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Sandra Ceccatelli – Dr. Ceccatelli is an MD specialist in Child neuropsychiatry, Docent in Neurobiology and Professor of Neurotoxicology at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. She has a recognized expertise in neurodevelopmental toxicity mechanisms, and long-term consequences of adverse events occurring during neurodevelopment. Her research group has considerable experience in experimental in vivo (rodents, zebra fish) and in vitro (2D, 3D and co-cultures) models including human iPSC-derived neuroepithelial, neuronal, astroglia and microglial cells. By using neural stem cells, Ceccatelli’ s group could show that high levels of glucocorticoid hormones (GC) affect the methylation state of genes regulating proliferation, differentiation, and migration as well as mitochondrial function and redox state. These findings point to epigenetic modifications being part of the developmental neurotoxicity mechanisms. In addition, in vivo rodent models revealed that prenatal excess GC alters hippocampal neurogenesis and induces depression-like behavior in adulthood that is preceded by long-lasting alterations in circadian patterns of activity. Collaborative clinical investigations show abnormal circadian activity patterns in depressed patients as well.
In addition to scientific leadership, Dr. Ceccatelli has considerable experience in management, having served as Head of the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet, Director of the Swedish Strategic Program in Neuroscience, and Director of the Karolinska Institutet Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine in Hong Kong and Stockholm.
Academic profile of KI PI:
CECCATELLI Sandra, D., Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet.
Relevant research interests and expertise: neurodevelopmental toxicity, prenatal origin of adult diseases, nervous system disorders, in vitro and in vivo experimental models, translational research. https://ki.se/en/neuro/ceccatelli-laboratory
Email: sandra.ceccatelli@ki.se
Prof. Thomas Sejersen
Professor,
Department for Paediatric Neurology, Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Home Care, Karolinska Institutet
Prof. Thomas Sejersen
Professor,
Department for Paediatric Neurology, Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and Home Care, Karolinska Institutet
Role in CNRM
Prof. Thomas Sejersen Dr. Sejersen will bring his extensive expertise in hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) into the CNRM. NMDs affect any component of the motor unit. The exact disease-causing mutations and specific functional consequences are still largely unknown, and this lack of knowledge results in insufficient diagnostic and therapeutic tools, as well as clinical care guidelines. By collaborating with other members of our InnoHK centre, Dr. Sejersen will contribute to improving the genetic diagnosis of patients with NMD and associated cardiomyopathies, gain deeper functional insight into pathophysiological events caused by disease causing gene variants, improve bone health and muscle regeneration in muscular dystrophies, and developing updated care guidelines for NMDs.
Academic profile of KI PI
SEJERSEN, Thomas, M.D., Ph.D. (Karolinska Institutet) Professor and Responsible for R&D, Dept. for paediatric neurology, rheumatology, orthopaedics and home care.
Relevant research interests and expertise: muscle regeneration, neuromuscular disorders, myogenesis, cardiomyopathies, translational research impacting on care of patients with neuromuscular diseases, clinical trials of muscular dystrophy. https://ki.se/en/people/thomas-sejersen
Email: thomas.sejersen@ki.se
Prof. Wang Dongan
Foreign Adjunct Professor,
Biomedical Engineering, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Wang Dongan
Foreign Adjunct Professor,
Biomedical Engineering, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
Professor,
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Dongan Wang research focuses on biomaterials for tissue engineering, therapeutic cell and nucleic acid delivery, as well as engineered biomimetic tissue platforms for in vitro drug evaluation. Particularly, Prof. Wang has developed bona fide hyaline articular cartilage graft that has been validated on pre-clinical level and now entering clinical trials.
Relevant research interests and expertise: biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, therapeutic cell delivery, nucleic acid delivery for therapeutic engineering; applications of stem cells for translational medicine, and engineered biomimetic tissue platforms for in vitro drug evaluation https://ki.se/en/research/dongan-wang
Email: dongan.wang@ki.se
Prof. Zheng Zongli
Associate Professor,
Department of Biomedical Sciences,
City University of Hong Kong
Prof. Zheng Zongli
Associate Professor,
Department of Biomedical Sciences,
City University of Hong Kong
Prof. Zongli Zheng explores CRISPR-based precision genome editing solutions to treat neuromuscular diseases, with emphasizes on long-term safety. Dr. Zheng employs protein engineering and genomics approaches to develop high-precision CRISPR nucleases to address the off-target issues. The goal of this research program is to advance the precision of CRISPR-mediated genome editing and contribute to viable clinical therapeutics in neuromuscular diseases.
Relevant research interests and expertise: precision genome editing, precision medicine, next-generation sequencing, single-cell genomics, biostatistics https://ki.se/en/research/zongli-zheng
Email: zongli.zheng@ki.se