Research Projects
The Gut Microbiome and Chronic Liver Disease


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

Our knowledge of the gut microbiome has expanded exponentially over the last decade. The availability of next-generation and third-generation sequencing technology has allowed an in-depth understanding into the gut microbiome’s metagenomics. Microbiome-based pharmaceutical therapies to treat a variety of disease entities are emerging. This project aims at utilising established animal models in the investigation of gut microbiome changes that are causally related to different chronic liver diseases, and which can emerge as potential microbiome-based diagnostic and therapeutic targets. The project utilises the germ-free gnotobiotic facilities of our institution, as well as the available high-throughput next-generation and third-generation metagenomic sequencing facilities. The option of associated genomic, proteomic and metabolomic studies are available. Support for bioinformatics analysis is also provided.

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