Research Projects
Traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of Depression and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Increasing prevalence of depression and neurodegenerative diseases negatively impacts on the quality of life, the harmony of society and the status of economy. The long-term objective of the present study is to discover the potential of Chinese medicines for effective control of depression and neurodegenerative diseases. We previously demonstrated that isoflavone puerarin from Radix Puerariae effectively ameliorated pain response and depressive behaviors in mice with spared nerve injury. We employed liposaccharide (LPS) to induce depressive behaviors in mice and profiled the transcriptomic response in brains by next generation RNA sequencing method. Small GTPase RagA was selected as a potential target gene in LPS-induced depression. RagA senses intracellular amino acids to control the lysosomal translocation and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the activities of p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1). The mTORC1 pathway orchestras cell signals to regulate cognition and neuropsychiatric conditions. ADORA2A represents the adenosine A2A receptor that is associated with depressive disorder. ADORA2A expression is under the control of HIF-2α signaling while p70S6K phosphorylates PHD-2 and controls its ability to degrade HIF isoforms. Thus, the project will evaluate the link of RagA/p70S6K/ADORA2A signaling cascade to the pathology of depression and neurodegenerative diseases and discover the traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of depression and neurodegenerative diseases via targeting the RagA/p70S6K/ADORA2A signaling pathway.

Dr J Zhao, School of Chinese Medicine

Dr Jia Zhao is currently a Research Assistant Professor in neuropharmacology on Chinese medicine at School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong. Dr Zhao received his PhD and conducted postdoctoral research in School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong. Dr Zhao is a registered Chinese medicine practitioner in Hong Kong. Dr Zhao’s research focused on the therapeutic effects and the underlying mechanism of Chinese medicines in the neurodegenerative disease, depression and pain. Dr Zhao mainly used transcriptomics, proteomics, cell signaling technology and metabolomics to study the targets of Chinese medicines. She has chaired over or participated in 10 research grants from Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shenzhen Fund and the Seed Research Fund of the University of Hong Kong, and published 48 papers in internationally renowned journals such as Chemical Science, Journal of Controlled Release, Journal of  Neuroinflammation, Molecular Neurobiology, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. Dr Zhao also serves as a guest editor and reviewer for several international academic journals.

Biography
 HKU Scholars Hub
zhaojia7@hku.hk

For more information or to express interest for this project, please email the supervisor or the specified contact point in the project description.  Interested candidates are advised to enclose with your email:

1. your CV,
2. a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
3. two reference letters (not required for HKUMed UG students seeking MRes[Med]/URIS projects).

Information on the research programme, funding support and admission documentations could be referenced online at the Research Postgraduate Admissions website. General admission enquiries should be directed to rpgmed@hku.hk.

HKUMed MBBS students interested in the Master of Research in Medicine (MRes[Med]) programme may visit the programme website for more information.  

HKUMed UG students interested in the Undergraduate Research Internship Scheme (URIS) may visit the scheme’s website for more information.