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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The Developmental and Regenerative Biology (DRB) Thematic Research Program covers four specific, but complimentary, research areas listed below. Members are interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of how embryos, tissues and stem cells are formed, develop, function and degenerate. Also how factors such as signalling molecules, hormones, growth factors and cytokines control these important processes. Outcome of these researches will help how we understand what is needed to recreate tissue and organs, including new drugs that could be used in regenerative medicine.

Reproductive Biology

• Functional genomics and epigenetics in germ cell and gonad development
• Role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in health and disease
• Delineating molecular mechanisms underlying germ cell ageing

Developmental Biology

• Using mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish embryos as models to elucidate fundamental development processes
• Foetal development in health and disease: genetics, genomics and the development of biomarkers

Endocrinology

• Hormone action and signal transduction
• Pancreatic physiology and diabetes
• Endocrine disorders : molecular biology and treatment by stem cells and therapeutic agents
• Intracellular protein trafficking and hypothalamic/pituitary hormone secretion
  
  

Stem Cells and Regenerative biology

• Investigating fundamental biological and mechanical factors that regulate stem cell proliferation, differentiation and developmental fate
• Use of stem cells and 3D scaffold-printing to generate tissues and organs for regeneration such bone fracture healing, cardiovascular and neural tissue repair etc.
• Reprograming normal and genetically abnormal somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) and using them as models to study human diseases and developmental processes
• Germline stem cell transdifferentiation for tissue regeneration
  
  

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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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