| Supervisor / contact | Study theme | Degree offered |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Margaret Ip margaretip@cuhk.edu.hk | Antimicrobial resistance in Gram positive cocci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae and other streptococci. Pathogenic mechanisms relating to virulence of MRSA, and streptococci, including Streptococcus agalactiae. Students are expected to learn basic bacteriology and molecular techniques, real-time PCR; sequencing, phylogenetic analysis studies on athogenic mechanisms may involve working with small animals and cell culture assays. Remarks: Previous experience in laboratory research related to microbiology and molecular biology would be an advantage. | MPhil / PhD |
| Prof. Zigui Chen zigui.chen@cuhk.edu.hk | Microbial Evolution, Host–Microbiota Interactions and Cancer Bioinformatics Our laboratory investigates how human microbiota and viruses contribute to cancer development, immune regulation and therapeutic response, with a major focus on upper aerodigestive tract cancers (UADCs), including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC). We integrate microbial genomics, molecular evolution, multi-omics, experimental models, AI and bioinformatics to discover biomarkers and develop microbiota-informed strategies for cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. Postgraduate students may work on projects including: 1. Non-invasive microbiota-based cancer detection using oral rinse, saliva or lavage samples. 2. Host–microbiota crosstalk in tumor microenvironments, including inflammation, epigenetic dysregulation and immune checkpoint regulation. 3. Microbiota-derived postbiotics or microbial adjuvants to enhance chemotherapy and immunotherapy. 4. HPV genomics, evolution and viral carcinogenesis in cervical and upper aerodigestive cancers. 5. Cancer bioinformatics and AI-assisted multi-omics integration for biomarker discovery and patient stratification. Students will receive interdisciplinary training in molecular microbiology, virology, cancer biology, microbial ecology, next-generation sequencing, multi-omics analysis, machine learning and advanced bioinformatics. Remarks: Experience in bioinformatics, microbiome research, molecular biology, virology, microbiology, immunology or cancer biology would be an advantage. | MPhil / PhD |
| Dr. Christopher Lai chris.kclai@cuhk.edu.hk | Study Themes Clinical application of advanced technologies The clinical application of MALDI-TOF, NAAT and NGS in the detection of pathogens’ antimicrobial resistance including Methicillin resistant S.aureus, and carbapenem resistant gram negative organisms, to facilitate early diagnosis, optimal antimicrobial use, improve patient outcomes, and assist hospital outbreak investigations. Develop and implement machine learning-based risk scores to improve the management of bloodstream infections including S. aureus, Streptococci, and Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia and infective endocarditis Respiratory viral pathogens Clinical, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases and respiratory viral pathogens including Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and human metapneumovirus Human microbiota The human gut, nasal, skin, and respiratory microbiota and its association with health, lifestyle, diet, diseases, especially relationship with antimicrobial-resistant organisms’ carriage, and drug interaction. Students are expected to learn basic bacteriology, molecular techniques, real-time PCR, next-generation sequencing, big data analysis, and machine learning, depending on the study theme involved. Remarks: Previous experience in laboratory or clinical research related to clinical microbiology, respiratory viral pathogens, bioinformatics, electronic health records, and machine learning would be an advantage. | MPhil / PhD |
| Dr. Xiao Yang xiaoyang@cuhk.edu.hk | Bacterial Transcription Regulation and Novel Antimicrobial Agent Discovery Transcription is the first step of gene expression in all organisms and bacterial transcription represents an underutilized antibiotic target. The following research areas are opened for postgraduate studies: (a) bacterial transcription regulation; (b) structural studies of bacterial transcription machinery; (c) discovery and development of novel antimicrobial agent targeting transcription. Students are expected to learn basic bacteriology techniques, such as aerobic and anaerobic culturing, and susceptibility testing; molecular techniques, such as cloning, protein overproduction and purification, protein-protein interaction; and structural techniques, such as cryo-electron microscopy and single particle analysis. Remarks: Previous experience in laboratory research related to molecular microbiology, biochemistry and structural biology would be an advantage. | MPhil / PhD |
| Dr. Rita Ng ritang@cuhk.edu.hk | Microbiome and Antimicrobial resistance The microbiome is the collection of genomes, genes and gene products of the microbiota living in a given environment. Significant associations were found between the microbiome and various diseases in many studies. Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health concern worldwide, which creates challenges in medical treatment in modern days. The following areas of research are opened for postgraduate studies: (a) epidemiology and risk factors of antimicrobial resistance; (b) role of microbiome in clinical diseases; (c) pathogenic mechanisms relating to bacterial virulence. Students are expected to learn microbiological techniques such as culture, identification and susceptibility testing; basic molecular techniques such as sequencing, real-time PCR; as well as in vitro and in vivo research skills. Remarks: Previous experience in laboratory research related to microbiology and molecular biology would be an advantage. | MPhil / PhD |
| Dr. Sishuo Wang sishuowang@cuhk.edu.hk | We work at the interface of microbiology, statistical phylogenetics, and bioinformatics. We develop and apply computational approaches to study genome evolution of bacteria, particularly for AMR bacteria and zoonotic bacteria. We are also initiating projects using metagenomics to study AMR bacteria/genes in the environments. Students are expected to learn coding, comparative genomics, statistical modelling, and machine learning. Remarks: Experience and/or an enthusiasm for bioinformatics and coding (Python, R, etc.) is an advantage | MPhil |
| Dr Adrian Chu adrianjunchu@cuhk.edu.hk | Discovery of Novel Antimicrobial Agents Targeting Mycobacteria Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most lethal infectious diseases in the world, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Controlling the spread of TB is undermined by emerging multi-drug resistance in high and intermediate burden regions, including Hong Kong. On the other hand, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) species such as Mycobacterium abscessus often harbour intrinsic drug resistance to available antimicrobial agents. Clinical management of both MTB and NTM require prolonged combinational therapy to address high levels of antimicrobial resistance, which negatively impacts treatment compliance and success rates. New strategies are needed to combat the drug-resistant mycobacterial infections. The following research area is open for postgraduate studies: 1. Characterisation of novel chemical compounds with antimycobacterial activity Students are expected to learn basic bacteriology techniques, such as culturing, microscopy, drug susceptibility testing, as well as molecular techniques such as cloning, protein expression, extraction and quantification of macromolecules, evaluation of protein-protein interactions. In addition, they will also learn to make proper use of biosafety cabinets (BSCs) to handle high-risk organisms. Remarks: Prior experience in laboratory research pertaining to microbiology – specifically the handling of live human pathogens under BSL-2 conditions or higher, as well as molecular biology, would be advantageous. | MPhil |
