Research Focus for Stem Cells and Regeneration Theme:

The host reaction to tissue injury involves a complex interplay of local and systemic, cellular and hormonal responses. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present in many adult tissues can generate new cells either continuously or in response to injury/inflammation/cancer. The main research focus of this group is to understand the role of stem cells in diseases and development and to use MSCs for clinical translational research. The main research interests include:

1. Study the fundamental biological/mechanical factors that control/regulate MSCs proliferation, differentiation and fate.
2. MSCs as a source for tissue engineering and regeneration such as bone-tendon healing, tendon repair, fracture healing, cardiac tissue repair, etc.
3. The role of MSCs in cancer development and the use of MSCs as carriers for anti-cancer gene therapy.
4. Reprogram the somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) and the use of iPS as models for studying diseases and developmental process.
5. To use GMP stem cell facility to carry out cell therapy clinical trials.

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Development and diseases

• Embryonic and fetal development and reproductive tract environment in health and diseases including prematurity, Hirschprung’s disease, neural crest defects, cardiac diseases and diabetic pregnancies.
• Development and regeneration of peripheral nerves, craniofacial development, deafness and eye diseases.
• Genetic and molecular basis of skeletal disorders
• Wnt/Planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling in development and disease.

Stem cells and tissue engineering

• Regulatory mechanisms of stem cell differentiation (microRNA, ion channels, long non-coding RNAs) and stem cell therapy in tissue regeneration.
• Generation, biological, genetic and genomic characterization, and clinical application of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, embryonic stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).
• Application of iPS cells as disease models including neurological diseases and cancers and as tools for drug discoveries.
• Stem cell biology and cell-based therapies
• Stem cell-based tissue engineering, biomaterials, artificial intelligence, deep learning, label-free cell tracking, musculoskeletal regeneration, orthopaedic research, small molecules and 3D microphysiological tissue models for regenerative medicine.
• Molecular regulation of stem cells in aging and age-related diseases

Developmental genomics, genetics and epigenetics

• Genetics and genomics of organogenesis, and functional genomics, epigenetics and cell biology of the reproductive epithelia, developing germ cells, embryonic gonads and reproductive tumors.
• Inherited and congenital diseases and personalized medicine.
• Molecular mechanisms of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
• CRISPR and gene-editing technologies for gene and cell therapies to treat human diseases.
  
  

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There are three foci:

1. Aging and Degeneration
   
   Group members are interested in studying basic mechanisms of cognitive disorders and associated central nervous system diseases including depression, drug abuse, and changes in pain pathways that occur during aging. There is also an interest to look at degenerative changes occurring in the autonomic system and in the gastrointestinal tract.
   
   
2. Development, Injury and Related Diseases
   
   The group has interests in a variety of topics including gene determinates in eye and brain development and pathogenesis, in developmental dyslexia and suicide as well as the role of ribosomal inactivating proteins during morphogenesis. The molecular guidance in the formation of neural pathways in cortex, visual system and spinal cord is also a prominent direction.
   
   
3. Brain Plasticity and Repair Group
   
   Members of the Brain Plasticity and Repair Group have on-going projects include studying the functions of neurotrophic factors in synaptic plasticity, the role of brain iron in neurodegenerative disease and possible therapeutic interventions, the use of the retina model to study repair of central nervous system, and the effect of chronic or intermittent hypoxia on neuronal injury, protection and plasticity. These projects concentrated on the functional adaptation, regeneration and healing processes.
   
   In all three foci, culture studies, imaging, behavioral studies as well as biochemical and other molecular techniques will be employed.

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Mission

The Cancer Biology & Experimental Therapeutics (CBET) thematic research program conducts research in understanding the basic mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression, with a long-term goal in translating this knowledge into effective cancer treatment. The Cancer Biology branch of CBET focuses on identifying and studying the molecular defects associated with cancers of the prostate, liver, pancreas, breast, nasopharynx, head and neck, and epidermoid carcinoma. Research activities include studying defects in signaling molecules that control cancer cell behaviors, global genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of cancer cells, elucidating the role of inflammation in tumor development, and the development of bioinformatics tools for “omics” analysis. The Experimental Therapeutics branch focuses on translational cancer pharmacogenomics, preclinical studies of the anti-tumor effects of biologics and Chinese Herbal extracts, and developing new therapeutics for chemoprevention and the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced side effects including nausea and emesis. The strategic long-term vision of the CBET aims to promote synergism between basic and translational research with the goal of developing innovative molecular-based therapies for human cancers.

Educational Mission

The major education goal of CBET is to train the next generation of cancer researchers. Members of the CBET are actively involved in training graduate students enrolled in the MPhil-PhD program in Biomedical Sciences. Apart from laboratory-based research, students are taught the latest advances in cancer research through didactic lectures, technical workshops, and journal clubs. The CBET is also participating in teaching undergraduate elective courses for students enrolled in the BSc in Biomedical Sciences. These courses will provide students with an introduction to the etiology, classification, and treatment of human cancers.

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