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

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

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

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

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

The Ker laboratory has extensive experience in biomaterials development and computer vision-based approaches for musculoskeletal and vascular tissue repair, including biomaterial design and mechanical and geometric cue optimization, and biopatterning of growth factor. This experience will be applied in a combinatorial approach to engineer suture buttons and hierarchical, vascularized muscle flaps for tissue repair.

Relevant research interests and expertise: Biomaterials, stem cell biology, growth factors- ECM interactions, 2D-biopatterning, 3D-printing, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, computer-aided cell tracking https://www2.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/people/academic-staff/prof-ker-dai-fei-elmer

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

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

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

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

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

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