Research Projects
DNA aptamers for early pancreatic cancer diagnosis


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

The early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer continues as a severe unsolved challenge. Our team is developing nucleic acid methodologies to detect pancreatic cancer biomarkers, using directed nucleic acid evolution approaches to develop aptamers against multiple targets. We are then interfacing these aptamers with electronics and with optical fibres to develop ultrasensitive methods to detect multiple biomarkers in parallel. This is an exciting project where the student can develop expertise across molecular biology, directed evolution, biomedical engineering and cutting-edge bioelectronics to develop new technologies for a significant diagnostic challenge.

Professor JA Tanner, School of Biomedical Sciences

Julian Tanner has expertise in chemical biology, nucleic acids and directed evolution. He leads a team at HKUMed and at the Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre at the Science Park in applying nucleic acid aptamers in diagnostics and therapeutics, and in developing DNA nanostructures for biomedical applications. 

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
Lab Homepage
ORCID
jatanner@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 @ School of Biomedical Sciences