Research Projects
Exploring the role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in regulation of retinal ferroptosis - implications in age-related eye diseases


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

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults (≥50).  With the expanding aging population, this poses a major public health concern.  While patients with dry AMD may benefit from the AREDS2 supplements containing vitamins and minerals that slow disease progression from intermediate to late stage, there is no available treatment to stop or slow progression in early dry AMD.  Development of prophylactic/therapeutic intervention for early dry AMD is an unmet need.  

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and loss is implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD but the mechanism of RPE cell death is unclear.  We previously identified that ferroptosis, a novel iron-dependent regulated cell death pathway, plays an important role.  While inhibition of ferroptosis can decrease RPE degeneration, ferroptosis inhibitors may carry significant adverse effects.  We hypothesize that targeting ferroptosis by elevating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) level decreases the susceptibility of RPE to ferroptosis-related regulated cell death via its downstream effector NRF2.  NAD+ is an essential cofactor and it increases cellular antioxidant capacity via the transcription factor NRF2, which also regulates ferroptosis.  We will apply morphological, functional, and biochemical tests and assays to decipher the link between NAD+ and ferroptosis for RPE protection in both in vivo and in vitro models.  

Professor ACY Lo, Department of Ophthalmology

Professor Amy Lo obtained her PhD from the Department of Neuroscience in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. One of the PI's research themes is neuroprotection in the eye using disease models such as transgenic and knockout mice, rats and rabbits as well as in vitro models using primary cells and cell lines. She is well trained in morphological, functional, cellular, and molecular analyses of the eye and brain. Professor Amy Lo has been using genetic and pharmacological manipulations to identify potential therapeutic targets for various ocular diseases. She has track record on age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cerebral and retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury, oxygen-induced retinopathy, retinal degeneration, and intraocular drug delivery.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
ORCID
amylo@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 @ Department of Ophthalmology