Department of Surgery, CUHK

RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE

OVERVIEW

The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a tertiary research institution of international repute with an annual postgraduate intake of over 13,000.

The Department of Surgery is an integral part of the Faculty of Medicine based in the Prince of Wales Hospital. Our programs are research-oriented, providing students with dedicated support, structured mentorship and excellent research opportunities during their journey of discovering their unique academic interests and developing an expertise in translational research. We equip postgraduate students with in-depth knowledge and advanced research skills, accentuating a comprehensive learning experience that builds a solid foundation for their academic career with an aim to excel at utilising surgical sciences to improve patient outcomes.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Potential Projects

Minimally Invasive Surgery
Cancer Research: Molecular Targets for Diagnosis and Treatment
Biomedical Informatics
Translational Genomics
Neurosurgery
Other topics in Surgery such as Hepato-biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Upper Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Urology and Cardiothoracic Surgery will also be considered.

Postgraduate Programmes

We offer three postgraduate programmes:

M.Phil. in Surgery

The programme is research-oriented. Students will have the opportunity to participate in international conference during the course of study. Each student will be required to deliver seminar, submit a written research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.

Target Participants
MPhil candidates include science graduates, medical students and medical doctors undertaking scientific training.

Fields of Specialisation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Cancer Research: Molecular Targets
for Diagnosis and Treatment
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurosurgery

Other topics in Surgery will also be considered.

Course Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 26 units of courses for graduation. 2 courses on Biostatistics (MEDP6002 & MEDP6003) are mandatory in the first year of their study. Each student must register for Thesis Research courses every term.

Normative Study Period
Full-time: 2 years
Part-time: 3 years

Ph.D. in Surgery

The programme is research-oriented. Students will have the opportunity to participate in international conference during the course of study. Each student will be required to deliver seminar, submit a written research thesis and pass an oral examination for graduation.

Target Participants
PhD candidates include science graduates, medical students and medical doctors undertaking scientific training.

Fields of Specialisation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Cancer genomics and Bioinformatics
• Cancer Research: Molecular Targets
for Diagnosis and Treatment
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurosurgery

Other topics in Surgery will also be considered.

Course Requirements
Students with a research Master’s degree are required to complete a minimum of 38 units of courses for graduation, whereas it is 50 units for students without a research Master’s degree. 2 courses on Biostatistics (MEDP6002 & MEDP6003) are mandatory in the first year of their study. Each student must register for Thesis Research courses every term.

Normative Study Period

	Full-time	Part-time
Ph.D. (entering with a research Master’s degree)	36 months	48 months
Ph.D. (entering without a research Master’s degree)	48 months	64 months

M.Phil.-Ph.D. Programme in Translational Genomics

The programme is research-oriented. It aims to bridge basic and clinical research through discovery and validation of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for earlier diagnosis and smarter treatments. Graduates of this programme will be equipped with sufficient skill sets required for careers in research institutions, hospitals, and healthcare-related industries with a high demand of intellectuals in genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, machine learning and deep learning applied for the discovery and validation of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for major human diseases like cancers.

Target Participants
Students who aim to become researchers in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, machine learning and deep learning applied for the discovery and validation of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for major human diseases like cancers.

Fields of Specialisation
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Computational biology
• Classical machine learning and deep learning

Course Requirements
Lecture courses of a minimum of 12 units are required for graduation. Each student must register for Thesis Research courses every term.

Required Lecture Courses
MEDP6002 Biostatistics I (1 unit)
MEPD6003 Biostatistics II (1 unit)
SURY5310 Frontiers in Translational Genomics (2 units)

Elective Lecture Courses
ELTU5501 Postgraduate Presentation Skills (3 units)
GNBF5020 Introduction to Molecular Biology and Genetics (3 units)
GNBF5040 Genomics: Basic Concepts and Applications (3 units)
GNBF5050 Theories and Algorithms in Bioinformatics (3 units)
GNBF5060 Systems Biology (3 units)
GNBF5070 Genome Informatics (3 units)
SURY5320 Clinical Genomics (3 units)

Normative Study Period

	Full-time	Part-time
M.Phil.	24 months	36 months
Ph.D. (entering with a research Master’s degree)	36 months	48 months
Ph.D. (entering without a research Master’s degree)	48 months	64 months

Interested candidates are encouraged to determine their research interest and discuss with their potential supervisor through email. Applicants with a general interest in pursuing a postgraduate degree in our department could send their CV and a brief statement on their research interest to postgrad@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk for consideration. Application deadline is listed on Graduate School's website.

RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISORS

Dr. CHAN Yuen Chung David

Neurosurgery |

Dr. CHIU Ka Fung Peter

Urology |

Professor Philip WY CHIU

Upper Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgery |

Dr. CUI Heyang

Research/Laboratory |

Professor James YW LAU

Vascular Surgery |

Dr. Zheng LI

Bioengineering | |

Dr. LIAO Rui

Research/Laboratory |

Professor Anthony CF NG

Urology |

Professor Enders KW NG

Upper Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgery |

Professor Simon SM NG

Colorectal Surgery |

Professor Calvin SH NG

Cardiothoracic Surgery | |

Professor Anthony YB TEOH

Upper Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgery |

Dr. Jeremy YC TEOH

Urology |

Professor WAN Song

Cardiothoracic Surgery |

Dr. WANG Xin

Surgical Oncology |

Dr. WANG Yuliang

Urology |

Professor Nathalie WONG

Surgical Oncology |

Dr. XU Mingjing Iris

Research/Laboratory |

CURRENT POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

BURGHARDT Rens Elia

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2017)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. TONG Chi Fai Michael
Prof. WONG Chun Man Patrick & Dr. NG Hoi Yee Iris

Field of Research:
Neural predictors of language and hearing outcomes in hearing impaired

CHEN Peng

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. CHIU Wai Yan Philip
Dr. CHAN Shannon Melissa

Field of Research:
Upper Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Surgery, Tumorigenesis mechanism

CHEN Sisi

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin
Dr. WONG Hung Leung Randolph

CHEN Xinyue

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin
Dr. Miao Zhichao

CHEN Xuan

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. TEOH Yuen Chun Jeremy

CHEUNG Chak Ting

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. Celia DONG

Field of Research:
Colorectal Cancer, Genomics

DONG Zhiwei

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. CHIU Wai Yan Philip

GAO Wentao

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Kathy LUI
Prof. LAU Yun Wong James

GUO Hongda

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. CHIU Ka Fung Peter

HUANG Hiu Yin

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. WONG Kwok Chu George

Field of Research:
Characterizing Microglia Phenotypes in Experimental Focal Ischemia

HUANG Yisen

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

Field of Research:
Surgical robot assistant, AI assisted robot

Award(s):
Winner of EndoCV2021

JIANG Bei

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

JIANG Tao

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

Field of Research:
Oncological bioinformatics

LAM Yin Kau Helena

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2019)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

Field of Research:
Hepatocellular carcinoma, patient-derived organoids, loss-of function TP53, gain-of-function TP53

LI Jian

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

Field of Research:
Medical Robotics

LI Jixiu

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin

Field of Research:
Medical Robotics, Magnetic endoscope

LI Ming

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. LAU Yun Wong James
Prof. Nathalie WONG

LI Xiang

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

LI Xining

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

Field of Research:
Bioinformatics

LI Yehui

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

Field of Research:
Medical robotics, colonoscopy, magnetic manipulation

Award(s):
Prof. Charles K.Kao Student Creativity Awards 2021 - Champion and Special Award (Postgraduate Group)

LI Yushi

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin

Field of Research:
Lung cancer, Biomarker

LIU Jiaxun, Jade

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. Celia DONG

LIU Jitao

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Kathy LUI
Dr. WONG Hung Leung Randolph

LIU Kang

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. TEOH Yuen Chun Jeremy

Field of Research:
Bladder cancer

LIU Shaorui

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2019)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. CHOI Chung Hang Jonathan
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin

Field of Research:
Gold nanoparticles, Biodistribution, Drug-delivery, Acute lung injury, Protein purification

LIU Yue

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Kwok Chai Kelvin

Field of Research:
Alternative splicing of mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma organoid

LUO Wenjie, William

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin

LUO Xiao

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

LUO Yujie

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. WONG Kwok Chu George

Field of Research:
Subarachnoid haemorrhage

MA Ruiying

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

Field of Research:
Genome research, Anti-tumor study in hepatocarcinoma

MEI Piaorong

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

MENG Xin

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin
Prof. Nathalie WONG

NG Wing Yin

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

Field of Research:
Machine Learning, Medical Image Analysis, Computer Vision

PENG Qiang

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. CHIU Ka Fung Peter

Field of Research:
Castration resistant prostate cancer, small non-coding RNA, spermine

PU Dandan

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

QIAO Sitan

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

Field of Research:
Cancer genome

QU Xinyu

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Katie MEEHAN
Dr. CHAN Jason Ying Kuen

SUN Jingkai

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. CHIU Ka Fung Peter

Field of Research:
Prostate Cancer

SUN Yanmei

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

Field of Research:
Alternative spicing events in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Sun Yichong

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng
Dr. Yip Hon Chi

Field of Research:
Magnetic control and sensing, Digestive endoscopy

WAN Ho Lee

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. Iris XU

Field of Research:
Alternative RNA splicing and glucose metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma

WANG Lishi

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

Field of Research:
Hepatocellular carcinoma immune subtype classification

WANG Tsz Ki

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. CHIU Ka Fung Peter

Field of Research:
Urology, Prostate cancer

WANG Yijuan

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. WANG Xin

WU Hongwei

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. TEOH Yuen Chun Jeremy

XIAN Yitian

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng
Dr. CHAN Yuen Chung David

Field of Research:
Neurosurgical Robotics

XIE Ke

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

YAO Jinyan

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2022)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. Nathalie WONG

YEUNG Chun Philip

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2019)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Kwok Chai Kelvin
Dr. CHEUNG Siu Tim

Field of Research:
Hepatocellular carcinoma related molecular pathways and novel treatments

Award(s):
AACR-Doreen J. Putrah Cancer Research Foundation Scholar-in-Training Award 2021; AACR-AbbVie Scholar-in-Training Award 2020

YU Shing Wilson

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2016)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. LEE Yuet Sheung Kathy
Prof. TONG Chi Fai Michael, Prof. NG Hoi Yee Iris

Field of Research:
Speech-in-noise test; Cantonese; Item Response Theory; Test Development

YUAN Qize

MPhil in Surgery (Admitted in 2019)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Sze Hang Calvin

Field of Research:
Lung cancer, Organoid, EGFR mutation

ZHANG Luyao

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. LAU Yun Wong James
Prof. Nathalie WONG

Field of Research:
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Immune oncology

ZHAO Hongda

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2020)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. NG Chi Fai
Dr. TEOH Yuen Chun Jeremy

Field of Research:
Bladder cancer, Organoids, PD-1

ZHOU Siran

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2021)

Supervisor(s):
Prof. CHIU Wai Yan Philip

Field of Research:
Endoscopic surgery, Endoscopic treatment

ZOU Limin

PhD in Surgery (Admitted in 2023)

Supervisor(s):
Dr. LI Zheng

Field of Research:
Medical robot, High speed drill automation

GRADUATES / ALUMNI

TSZE Cheung Yin
PhD
2023
Development of an Item Pool for the Computerized Adaptive Testing on Receptive Vocabulary for Preschoolers

Name	Degree	Year of Graduation	Thesis Titles
TSZE Cheung Yin	PhD	2023	Development of an Item Pool for the Computerized Adaptive Testing on Receptive Vocabulary for Preschoolers