Research Projects
Determinants of Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: Viral Hepatitis, Steatosis and the Gut Microbiome


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

Objective and Significance:
To characterize determinants of advanced liver disease, i.e. severe liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, based on novel clinical and laboratory-based diagnostics

Research Plan and Methodology:
We have an established registry of patients with advanced liver disease, including patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We aim to investigate the role of emerging and novel markers in predicting liver-related outcomes.

Novel markers include:

  • Viral markers for HBV, which reflect different parts of the HBV life cycle;
  • Imaging techniques facilitating accurate quantification of fibrosis and steatosis;
  • Stool biomarkers reflective of the gut microbiome, reflecting microbial dysbiosis along the gut-liver axis.

We will explore the observational and interventional role of such markers in the management of advanced liver disease.

Professor WWK Seto, Department of Medicine

Prof. Wai-Kay Seto graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 2003 and received his Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2010 from the Hong Kong College of Physicians. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Hong Kong in 2012. He is currently the Simon KY Lee Professor in Gastroenterology in the Department of Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the State Key Laboratory of Liver Disease, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. He is also the Chair of Division and Chief Physician in Gastroenterology of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China; and Assistant Dean (Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Research Sub-Deanery), LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

 

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
wkseto@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 Medicine