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Programme(s) to which this project applies: |
| ☑ MPhil/PhD | ☒ MRes[Med] | ☒ URIS |
About the Project
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a critical role in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. In pre-atherosclerotic lesions, there are stiffness changes of arteries due to vascular injuries or excess deposition of cholesterol plaques, and VSMC switches from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype. In particular, synthetic VSMC assembles the podosome as the invasive adhesion structure, migrates between different vessel layers, and promotes the pro-atherosclerotic matrix microenvironment. Rho GTPase is one of the master regulators of podosome assembly. We aim to investigate how matrix stiffness orchestrate the plasticity of VSMC by regulating Rho GTPase activation.
About the Supervisor
Professor CH Yu, School of Biomedical Sciences
My research team aims to decipher the molecular reorganisation and signal transduction at the cell-matrix adhesion. We provide four-year scholarship and are looking for one to two talented PhD students.
Next Step?
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:
- your CV,
- a brief description of your research interest and experience, and
- 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.
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