Research Projects
Corneal Analysis for Peripheral Neuropathy


Programme(s) to which this project applies:
☑ MPhil/PhD ☒ MRes[Med] ☑ URIS

Diabetes is a world epidemic. It was estimated that 1 in 11 adults (9.1%, 463 million) suffered from diabetes in 2019 worldwide (IDF Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition) while 1 in 5 diabetics are >65 years old (136 million).  This number will increase by 52% in 2045 (700 million). Meanwhile, diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes in the middle-aged working population. Lack of good methodology has made its diagnosis challenging. 

Cornea is highly innervated by Adelta and unmyelinated C fibres, which are often affected in diabetic neuropathy. Non-invasive examination of corneal nerve sensitivity and morphometry may function as an early marker for diabetic neuropathy.

Professor ACY Lo, Department of Ophthalmology

Professor Amy Lo obtained her PhD from the Department of Neuroscience in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. One of the PI's research themes is neuroprotection in the eye using disease models such as transgenic and knockout mice, rats and rabbits as well as in vitro models using primary cells and cell lines. She is well trained in morphological, functional, cellular, and molecular analyses of the eye and brain. Professor Amy Lo has been using genetic and pharmacological manipulations to identify potential therapeutic targets for various ocular diseases. She has track record on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cerebral and retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, oxygen-induced retinopathy, retinal degeneration, and intraocular drug delivery.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
ORCID
amylo@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. 

Research @ Department of Ophthalmology