Research Projects
Neuroprotection for intracerebral haemorrhage

Objectives and Significance:

Stroke is a devastating condition that is becoming increasingly common in our aging population. Currently, there is no effective treatment for intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), a form of haemorrhagic stroke. While surgical evacuation of ICH can save lives, functional outcomes remain poor. This project aims at encouraging and enabling students to develop novel neuroprotective therapy for the improvement of survival and functional outcome in animals with induced ICH. Several potential treatments can be examined in the Supervisor ‘s laboratory, and potential therapeutic targets may involve, for example, the brain’s inflammatory responses and cell death pathways. The ultimate goal is to translate preclinical laboratory findings into readily applicable clinical treatment for stroke.

Research Plan and Methodology:

• Students will have the opportunities to induce ICH in rodents (rats or mice) using the collagenase-injection technique. Experimental drug treatment can be given. Animals are then subject to assessment of neurological function in a longitudinal fashion together with imaging studies (e.g., MRI) in order to investigate the effects of experimental treatment. This may involve experimental procedures such as the induction of general anaesthesia, performing craniotomy in small animals, intra-operative monitoring, microsurgery, functional assessment, and the harvesting and studying of brain specimens.
• Students will harvest animal brains and study them using histopathological techniques, immunohistochemistry, western blot, PCR, and other molecular assays.
• Animals with genetic modifications (e.g., genetic knock out of a target gene) may also be used.

Professor GKK Leung, Department of Surgery

Biography
gkkleung@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.