Mission & Goals Strategic Directions Message from the Interim Director Management Committee List of Members Research Programmes Cell Therapy & Tissue Engineering Degeneration & Regeneration Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome Vascular Biology Applied Research University SRT on Healthy Aging International Conferences and Workshops Lectures and Seminars Sitemap Members' Area Contact Us Home
head1
Search     
About Us
Research
Activities
Laboratory
Laboratory
ELISA Kit
Centre Laboratory
















































 

Location: Room 503, 5th Floor, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam

To facilitate research and provision of training opportunities, the Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging Laboratory has been set up under the supervision of a laboratory committee, consisting of a Deputy Director and 3 Investigators.

After extensive consultation with the Centre investigators, the following 3 research facilities for Healthy Aging Research have been established within the Centre Laboratory. In view of the limitation of space in the Centre Laboratory, appropriate networking with the existing facilities/space in Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Laboratory Animal Unit is arranged.

  1. Functional genomics: include facilities and expertise for understanding the gene function and dysfunction in aging-related diseases by making use of transgenic/knock-out mouse models generated by conventional and conditional approaches, siRNA (in vitro and in vivo), and global gene and protein expression (microarray and proteomics).

  2. Biomarkers & phenotying: include the multiplex assays for inflammatory, oxidative and hormonal changes, as well as metabolic, haemodynamic and behavioral assessments.

  3. Cell and tissue engineering: include human and mouse stem cell culture & differentiation, and recombinant viral vector generation.

The following core facilities are available for use by all the centre / non-centre members:

  1. In-vitro & In-vivo Setup for Hypoxia
    The in-vitro and in-vivo hypoxia setup is aimed at providing a core facility for researchers to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms of hypoxic modulation. Investigators in our Centre have been working in the study of hypoxia in different areas:

    • Role of hypoxia in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
    • Hypoxia and Cardiomyocytes
    • Intermittent hypoxia and vascular/metabolic homeostasis

  2. Whole-Body Plethysmography (WBP)
    Whole-body plethysmography on unrestrained freely moving animals provides a simple way to study pulmonary function in a non-invasive manner over time. This system uses changes in a plethysmograph box pressure to follow breathing patterns and calculate the PenH, which correlate with measures of pulmonary resistance and compliance. Other physiologic endpoints such as breaths-per-minute, tidal volume, inspiratory time, and expiratory time can also be monitored. In addition, an aerosol can be supplied through a specific inlet at the top of the plethysmograph, which enables the delivery of any compounds by inhalation.

Usage of the Hypoxia Setup

  • Please contact Dr Judith Mak, Department of Medicine by email at judymak@hku.hk for any enquiries on booking/usage for the invivo Setup (A84).

Usage of the Whole-Body Plethysmography (WBP)

  • Please contact Dr Judith Mak, Department of Medicine by email at judymak@hku.hk for any enquiries on booking/usage.

Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone & Healthy Aging, HKU LKS Faculty of Medicine. All Rights Reserved