Low-temperature, Ultrahigh-vacuum
Glancing Angle Deposition (LT-UHV GLAD): Material and Morphology Engineering of Multi-dimensional
Photonic Nanostructures for Fundamental and Applied Studies
A low-temperature ultrahigh-vacuum glancing angle deposition (LT-UHV GLAD) system will be custom-designed
at HKBU. In general, the GLAD technique is utilized to fabricate micro/nano ‘forests’, the arrays
composed of well separated micro/nano pillars (or ‘trees’), whose morphology (e.g. shape, dimension,
periodicity, chirality, surface pillar density, and growth orientation) can be flexibly
engineered. However, the morphology engineering is limited to dielectrics, which can be extended to metals using
LT-UHV GLAD. A LT-UHV GLAD-based platform of material fabrication will be established in Hong
Kong, aiming at the promotion of both fundamental studies in the morphology dependence of material
properties and applied researches in, but not limited to, environmental protection and remediation,
renewable energy, nano-biotechnology, nano-optics, nanophotonics, nanosensors,
and nanoelectronics.
Project Coordinator:
Dr Zhi-Feng HUANG
(Hong Kong Baptist University)
Defining the Regulatory Pathways
Coupling Cell Division Timing and Cell Fate Differentiation During C. elegans
Embryogenesis Using Automated Lineaging
Propagation of a cellular organism from one generation to another requires both cell
division and cell growth. Cell divisions of single-celled organisms
are independent of each other while those of a multicellular organism require tight coordination
among one another in order to form different cell types. Failure in the coordination frequently
leads to abnormal cell death or tumorous growth. How the cell division paces are
coordinated to ensure formation of proper cell types during animal
development remains poorly understood. By a combination of biological and computing science,
our previous group developed multiple tools allowing automatic tracing of cell division
histories during C. elegans embryogenesis. We will apply these tools to identify genes that couple cell division
paces with cell fate differentiation. The knowledge obtained will not only provide mechanistic insight
into how cell division pace is tuned to accommodate tissue formation during animal development, but
also shed light on how a cancer cell is originated in the first place.
Project Coordinator:
Dr Zhong-Ying ZHAO
(Hong Kong Baptist University)
Centre for MicroRNA
Study-Basic Research and Clinical Potentials in Cancer
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) of cellular and viral origin have emerged as an important class of
non coding RNA that regulates gene expression by repressing translation of mRNA into protein. Supported by
Collaborative Research Fund in 2008/09, the present investigative team has reported on deregulated
cellular and viral miRNAs of two locally prevalent cancers, namely
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), and the
Epstein Barr virus (EBV) which is a strong risk factor for the development of NPC. In this renewal fund,
we propose to initiate new research areas that are vital in establishing firm understandings on the
miRNA modulated NPC and HCC biology. Recent studies have emphasized on miRNAs carriage in cell
secreted exosomes in intercellular communications. Realizing EBV sequence variants can contribute to
specific EBV miRNA expressions in NPC, it is also important that we assert comprehensive
information on the viral sequence to fully apprehend the unique EBV miRNA biogenesis in NPC. Based on our
experience in deciphering cellular and viral miRNAs, we propose to broaden our investigative scope in
this project to include new research directions in NPC, HCC and
EBV.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Nathalie WONG
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Memories and Monuments: Migration
from South China to Chinese Cities in Different Colonial Settings, 1830-1930s
This collaborative research project, comprising four teams from the Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong and
Singapore, aims at investigating, analyzing and comparing the Chinese migration experiences and
their diasporic practices in the four cities during the period from 1830s to 1930s when these
cities were either under direct colonial rule or indirect colonialism.
Our project focuses on a relatively under-researched
aspect in Chinese migration history, i.e., Chinese-Chinese relations. This can be defined in terms of
the Chinese immigrants’ relation with the Chinese society from which they came, and with the Chinese
early settlers in the places they were migrating to. Most research on Chinese migration seems to focus
on Chinese migration to a foreign country and the processes of their adaptation and adjustment in a
new environment, but our project will analyse the Chinese networks in the migration process and focus
on the linkages and continuities, and find out how these linkages and continuities influenced the social
and cultural practices of the Chinese in their new cities.
The fact that the destination of the Chinese
migration movement was a ‘Chinese city’ would convey a sense of familiarity and security vis-à-vis
that of ‘foreignness’ and uncertainty at the beginning of the migration process, and that
the Chinese elements in the receiving end would also shape their migration experience, this marks a clear
difference for those who migrated to these cities and those who went abroad to a strange new
world. But were these assumptions of familiarity-security and foreignness-uncertainty real? And
how these different assumptions would translate into their diasporic practices? In this comparative
study we attempt to analyse and compare the collective memory of the Chinese immigrants to
the four ‘Chinese cities’ of Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Taipei and Singapore by examining the
sources (written, oral and material) that recorded or expressed their migration experiences, and in
addition, to see how different colonial policies would affect their diasporic practices as Shanghai
was governed primarily by the French and Anglo-American establishment in the
settlements, Taipei was under Japanese occupation since 1894, and Hong Kong and Singapore were British colonies
from the early nineteenth century onward.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Yuen-Sang LEUNG
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Genomic and Molecular Studies of a Salinity Tolerance Locus
in the Wild Soybean Genome
Soybean, an environmentally friendly crop with a high nutritional value, was first domesticated in
China ~5,000 years ago. The wild soybean, adapted to grow in natural environments that are often
suboptimal, is a vital genetic resource for studying how plants adapt to various adverse environments
(such as high salinity), and therefore providing us with new insights into crop improvement.
This team has successfully obtained important genomic data and constructed unique genetic
materials to identify a major salinity tolerance locus in the wild soybean genome. Subsequently, we will
perform detailed functional analysis of candidate genes within this locus to unveil the tolerance
mechanism.
Participating scientists have a long-term collaborative
relationship, constituting a team of complementary expertise. This proposed project is one of the very
few attempts worldwide to combine the efforts of high-throughput sequencing and detailed molecular
biology studies to address an important issue related to agriculture.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Hon-Ming LAM
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
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EXPO
(Exocyst-positive Organelle): Dynamics, Biogenesis and Function in Plants
We have recently identified a novel organelle termed EXPO (Exocyst-positive Organelle), which
may mediate an unconventional cytosol to plasma membrane secretion pathway in plant cells. In this
collaborative effort, using a combination of cellular, molecular, biochemical and genetic
approaches, we will study the molecular mechanisms of EXPO dynamics, biogenesis and function in plants.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Li-Wen JIANG
(The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Understanding the Coupling
of Mass-transport and Electrochemical Reactions in the Nanostructured Fuel Cell Electrodes
The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) promises to be a clean and efficient energy
production technology as it offers many unique advantages including a low demand
on electrochemical catalysts, a high energy density of fuel, facile fuel storage and
handling, and simplicity, making it particularly suitable for mobile and transportation
applications. However, the performance of the DMFC has yet to reach the expected level for
widespread commercialization. The limiting factor is the efficiency of the DMFC electrodes,
which have a complex micro/nanostructure involving interrelated electronic and ionic
conducting phases, gas-phase porosity, and catalytically active surfaces. These
electrodes are extremely difficult to optimize. The primary
objectives of this project are to understand the coupled transport of protons, electrons, and
mass species and the electrochemical reactions in nanostructured DMFC electrodes, and to
create and optimize a new class of electrode structures that maximizes both the power yield
and the utilization of precious metal catalysts.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Tian-Shou ZHAO
(The Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology)
Liver Transplantation
Research Centre: A Multidisciplinary Study for Liver Graft Injury
Liver transplantation is a life-saving treatment
for patients with end stage liver diseases including liver cancer. However, graft injury
is the key issue, which may cause graft dysfunction and fibrosis and promote cancer
recurrence. We aim to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver graft injury.
This will allow us to identify the novel circulating biomarkers indicating acute phase graft injury
and predicting late phase tumor recurrence and metastasis after transplantation. The
potentials of stem cell therapy for graft regeneration will be also
explored. The findings from this project will perfect the outcome of liver transplantation
by addressing the issue of graft injury through integrated clinical, basic and
translational research.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Chung-Mau LO
(The University of Hong Kong)
Controlling Scattering and Absorption Cross Sections Using
Simple Artificial Structures
A wave is scattered if it encounters an object and the likelihood of it being scattered or
absorbed is described by its scattering cross section (SCS) and the absorption cross
section (ACS). Controlling these cross sections can result in many useful
applications. For example, stealth technology works by coating an object to reduce its
SCS. If a coating can enhance the ACS for light, it will facilitate light harvesting.
If a coating can enhance the ACS for sound, it will facilitate sound absorption. We will
design and build various structures and coating layers that can change the SCS or ACS of other objects, with emphasis
on employing simple structures and materials that are easy to process. We will try to
realize unusual effects by controlling the SCS or ACS. For example, we will see if we can use light beams to attract or
rotate an object by manipulating its SCS.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Che-Ting CHAN
(The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Strategic Research of Hormones and Their Receptors in the
Water Homeostatic Axis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Anti-hypertensive Drug Design
Hypertension is a global health threat with approximately one billion people worldwide
being affected causing seven million deaths annually. Despite the many therapeutic options available today, majority
of patients receiving anti-hypertensive treatment, however, cannot control their blood pressures within
the normal range. Hence, the development of new classes of anti-hypertensive drugs is urgently
needed. We have recently identified secretin as a key factor in regulating water/salt balance as well
as cardiovascular function. These novel functions of secretin indicate its potential in bypassing actions
of some of the hypertensive medications available nowadays. The objective of this project is to
comprehensively investigate the interactions of secretin with other hormones in our body
in regulating blood pressure and water/salt balance, and eventually to develop secretin
receptor analogs as a new class of drugs for the treatment of hypertension.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Billy Kwok-Chong CHOW
(The University of Hong Kong)
Molecular Mechanisms of
Innate Antiviral Response
Host cells combat invading viruses by initiating an innate antiviral response. Detection of viruses
by prototypic cytoplasmic sensor RIG-I in human and animal cells elicits a signal which ultimately
switches on the production of antiviral proteins such as interferons. Our recent research work
has revealed a new partner and activator of RIG-I called PACT. Understanding the mechanisms
by which PACT activates RIG-I will substantially advance the field. In this group research
project, we will pool our complementary expertise and resources to carry out molecular and structural
biological studies to understand PACT-induced activation of RIG-I during viral infection in
both cultured cells and mouse models. By strengthening the new
concept that the function of virus sensor RIG-I requires a dsRNA-binding
protein partner, our work will not only provides new avenues for studying viral and cellular
regulators of innate immune response, but will also reveal novel strategies for developing
antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.
Project Coordinator:
Dr Dong-Yan JIN
(The University of Hong Kong)
Quantum Control and
Quantum Information Processing
Quantum control and quantum information processing using atomic optical systems
and solid state systems are cutting edge sciences with applications in device science, communication,
cryptography, and metrology. In this collaborative project, we bring together the existing research
strength in these areas in Hong Kong to form a team to address important issues in these
areas. In particular, we will concentrate on the experimental studies on quantum state
control, quantum information processing, and quantum communications using systems including
photons, atoms and artificial atoms in solids. These studies will be backed up by the theorists
in our team. We expect that the collaborative research in this emerging
interdisciplinary field will not only advance our understanding of
the exotic quantum world, but also expand our imagination for tomorrow’s quantum
technological innovation.
Project Coordinator:
Prof Zi-Dan WANG
(The University of Hong Kong)
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