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Programme(s) to which this project applies: |
| ☑ MPhil/PhD | ☒ MRes[Med] | ☑ URIS |
About the Project
Target disease
Multiple sclerosis
Why MS?
MS is a nexus of autoimmunity and neuroscience. Recent breakthroughs in CAR-T clinical trials in MS showed very promising results (2024, PMID: 38396094)
What is CAR-microglia and why it is more promising that CAR-T?
Microglia is an immune cell in the brain. They clean up protein aggregates and dead cells. We can introduce chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to force microglia to target B-cells which is a cause of MS. CAR-T cannot pass BBB. Thus we need to leverage microglia abundant in the brain.
How to make CAR-microglia?
We will employ lipid nanoparticles specifically targeting microglia. They deliver CAR-coding DNA.
What is novelty and impact?
We are an immunoengineering lab. We design a novel CAR, synthetic receptors, and immune modules to convey superior function to immune cells
What I can learn in the lab?
Team work. Project organizing skills. Writing and presentation skills. Network with international colleagues. Opportunities to overseas exchanges (Cambridge University, Harvard Medical School etc.).
Experiment skills you can learn
Computational analysis, CRISPR library screening, Live imaging, Mouse model
References
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00470-5
About the Supervisor
Professor RR Sugimura, School of Biomedical Sciences
Professor Rio Sugimura is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of hematology, immunology, and stem cell biology. His lab has two branches. One focuses on understanding the optimal structure and induction strategies of CAR in immune cells from human pluripotent stem cells at HKSTP. The other is on dissecting fundamental mechanisms of human immune cell development and the role of checkpoints using a single-cell multi-omics approach, Tumors-on-Chips, and assembloids at HKUMed. Professor Sugimura is a Director of the Blood Engineering Laboratory, a PI of the Centre for Translational Stem Cell Biology, and an Assistant Professor of HKUMed.
https://www.riosugimura.com/
Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Google Scholar
ORCID
Laboratory Homepage
rios@hku.hk
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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