Research Projects
Molecular mechanisms of peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis


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

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the first-line renal replacement modality for patients with end-stage kidney disease in Hong Kong. Constant exposure of the peritoneum to bioincompatible PD fluids induces peritoneal inflammation and injury to mesothelial cells, which if not adequately controlled will lead to peritoneal fibrosis and cessation of PD. Discoveries from our team include the potential anti-fibrotic effects of decorin, and the effects of microRNA-200c on mechanisms leading to peritoneal fibrosis.

Our research projects aim to investigate mechanisms of PD-associated peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis using murine models of PD, and in vitro studies using mesothelial cells to elucidate their role in peritoneal homeostasis, cellular senescence and fibrosis. 

Professor SSY Yung, Department of Medicine

Prof Yung is Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Hong Kong. She graduated in Applied Biology from Cardiff University, UK, and obtained a PhD at Cardiff University School of Medicine, UK. Prof Yung received post-doctoral training at Cardiff University School of Medicine and University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.

Prof Yung has published in top-ranked subspecialty journals such as the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Kidney International, Arthritis & Rheumatism (now Arthritis & Rheumatology) and EBioMedicine.

Biography
HKU Scholars Hub
ORCID
ssyyung@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