Research Projects
Complex organoids for bowel disease modeling

3D cell culture has shown the advantage of resembling more of the physiological environment and the capability of examining interactions between different cell lineages; nevertheless, it is not desirable for long-term culture since the core of the 3D structure would encounter a lack of nutrients and oxygen. Additionally, the bulky culture makes it difficult to quantify and interpret the data . Recently, co-culture of different cell types to form organoids has shown to be effective in resembling human organ conditions.  In this project, we aim to develop methods to established a more complex innervated colonic organoids with blood vessels (vascularized) for disease modeling

Professor ESW Ngan, Department of Surgery

Professor Elly Sau-wai Ngan is a professor in the department of Surgery, LKS Faculty of Medicine. Her main research interest is to translate the genetic data obtained from patients into biology to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of neural crest associated diseases, with a particular focus on neuroblastoma and Hirschsprung disease (HSCR). Her laboratory has established various disease models using human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cell- and organoid models and transgenic/knock-out mice to decode the functional impacts of HSCR associated mutations in enteric nervous system development. The recent focus of her group is to develop methods for generation of functional neurons for cell-based therapy.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Laboratory Homepage
ORCID
engan@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.