Research Projects
Immunomodulatory biomaterials

Proper immune responses are essential for biomaterials, which determine the fate of the implanted biomaterials. Macrophages are the first arrivals involved in the foreign body response (FBR) and play an important regulatory role in the later recruited other cell lines (i. e. MSCs) . Previous studies have proved that unfavorable FBR comes along with undesirable inflammatory cell infiltration and activation, which may result in the formation of fibrous capsule, leading to the isolation of implants and the eventual failure of osteointegration. Therefore, the host immune response initiated by macrophages is of paramount importance in mediate the immune environment for successful osteointegraion. However,  it remains a great challenge to identify a precise, controllable and non-invasive way to modulate the local immune microenvironment during specific stages for tissue regeneration.

Dr Y Zhu, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Currently, Dr. Zhu is a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKU). His specializations include advanced tissue regeneration and antibacterial biomaterials, with a focus on surface engineering strategies for immune-modulating implants, nanomaterials engineering with stimulus-responsive platforms for tissue regeneration, and non-antibiotic antibacterial materials.

His academic contributions include 17 published papers with over 1000 citations and an h-index of 13 (Google Scholar). He has also actively participated in numerous local and regional competitions, earning recognition such as the Faculty Research Output Award (2024) and the Chinese Association for Biomaterials Trainee Award (2025). As both a principal investigator and co-investigator, he has successfully secured funding exceeding HK$ 7,000,000.

Biography
ORCID
benqiu@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.