Education
| 1982 | PhD (Microbiology), University of California, Davis, USA |
| 1978 | MPhil, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 1977 | PG Dip Microbiol Biotech (Microbiology and Biotechnology), Osaka & Kyoto University, Japan |
| 1975 | BSc (Hon.) (Biology), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong |
Position
|
2007 |
Justice of the Peace, HKSAR |
| 2019-present | Emeritus Professor (School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
|
1997-2019 |
Professor (School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2008-present |
Director (Food Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2009-present |
Member, Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification, Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR |
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2006-present |
Chairman, Expert Committee on Food Safety, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, HKSAR |
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2006-present |
Chairman, Accreditation Advisory Board, Hong Kong Accreditation Service, Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR |
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2004-present |
Member, Scientific Committee on Enteric Infections and Foodborne Diseases, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, HKSAR |
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1998-present |
Member (Election Committee for 10th & 11th National People’s Congress of People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, PRC) |
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1999-present |
Professor (by Courtesy) (School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2006-present |
Deputy Director (Centre for Food and Drug Safety, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2006-2009 |
Dean (Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2005-2006 |
Acting Dean (Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2003-2005 |
Associate Dean (Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2003-2005 |
Director (Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2002-2005 |
President (The Teachers' Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2001-2007 |
Member (Biology and Medicine Panel, Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee, Hong Kong SAR Government) |
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2000-2003 |
Director (Molecular Biotechnology Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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2000-2007 |
Member (Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene, Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government) |
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2000-2007 |
Member (Publicity and Public Education Group on Clean Hong Kong, Environment and Food Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government) |
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2000-2007 |
Member (Steering Committee on Clean Hong Kong, Environment and Food Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government) |
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1999-2000 |
Associate Director (Molecular Biotechnology Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1998-2006 |
Member (Election Committee for Legislative Council and Chief Executive, Hong Kong SAR Government) |
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1998-present |
Visiting Professor in Microbiology (Microbiology, Naikai University, PRC) |
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1996-1997 |
Associate Professor (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1995-1999 |
Head (Biology Graduate Division, Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1995-1996, |
Associate Director (Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1994-1995, 1996-1998 |
Director (Food and Nutritional Sciences Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1994-1996 |
Senior Lecturer (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1992-1993 |
Visiting Assistant Professor (Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, USA) |
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1991-1993 |
Dean of Students (United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1991-1992, |
Director (Research Laboratory of Food Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1989-1991 |
Director (Research Laboratory for Food Protein Production, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1988-present |
Fellow (Assembly of Fellows, United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1984-1993 |
Lecturer (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
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1983-1984 |
Postdoctoral Research Bacteriologist (Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Davis, USA) |
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1982 |
Postdoctoral Research Microbiologist (Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, USA) |
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1979-1982 |
Associate in Food Science & Technology (Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, USA) |
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1975-1976, |
Student Demonstrator (Dept of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong) |
Research Interests
- Genomics and functional genomics
- Molecular genetics and genomic analysis of bacteria, fungi and marine animals
- Food Safety and Authentication
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
- Molecular Analysis of Chinese Medicine and Food
Representative Publications
- Chan PL, Kwan HS, Xie Y, Wong KH, Chang J. 2024. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Mycelial and Fruiting Responses to Lithium Chloride in Coprinopsis cinerea. Journal of Fungi.10:140.
- Wong MC, Chan KM, Wong TT, Tang HW, Chung HY, Kwan HS. 2023. Quantitative Textural and Rheological Data on Different Levels of Texture-Modified Food and Thickened Liquids Classified Using the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) Guideline. Foods. 12:3765.
- Lauw S, Kei N, Chan PL, Yau TK, Ma KL, Szeto CYY, Lin JS-C, Wong SH, Cheung PCK, Kwan HS. 2023. Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Syndrome Traits and Gut Microbial Profile among Overweight and Obese Hong Kong Chinese Individuals: A Randomized Trial. Nutrients.15:4248. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15194248
- Xie Y, Chan PL, Kwan HS, Chang J. 2023. The Genome-Wide Characterization of Alternative Splicing and RNA Editing in the Development of Coprinopsis cinerea. Journal of Fungi (Basel). 9:915. doi: 10.3390/jof9090915.
- Chan PL, Lauw S, Ma KL, Kei N, Ma KL, Wong YO, Lam HY, Ting YY, Yau TK, Nong W, Huang D, Xie Y, Cheung PCK, Kwan HS. 2022. ProBioQuest: a database and semantic analysis engine for literature, clinical trials and patents related to probiotics. Database 2022: baac059.
- Cheung MK, Yue GG, Lauw S, Li CS, Yung MY, Ng SC, Yip HC, Kwan HS, Chiu PW, Lau CB. 2022. Alterations in gut microbiota of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. doi:10.1111/jgh.159411.
- Xie Y, Zhong Y, Chang J, Kwan HS. 2021. Chromosome-level de novo assembly of Coprinopsis cinerea A43mut B43mut pab1-1# 326 and genetic variant identification of mutants using Nanopore MinION sequencing. Fungal Genetics and Biology 146: 103485.
- Nong W, Chai ZY, Jiang X, Qin J, Ma KY, Chan KM, Chan TF, Chow BK, Kwan HS, Wong CK, Qiu JW. 2020. A crustacean annotated transcriptome (CAT) database. BMC genomics 21:1-5.
- Huang D, Yi X, Zhou Y, Yao H, Xu H, Wang J, Zhang S, Nong W, Wang P, Shi L, Xuan C, Li M, Wang J, Li W, Kwan HS, Sham PC, Wang K, Li MJ. 2020. Ultrafast and scalable variant annotation and prioritization with big functional genomics data. Genome Research gr-267997.
- Tsang KS, Cheung MK, Lam RY, Kwan HS. 2020. A preliminary examination of the bacterial, archaeal, and fungal rhizosphere microbiome in healthy and Phellinus noxius‐infected trees. MicrobiologyOpen 9: e1115.
- Xie Y, Chang J, Kwan HS. 2020. Carbon metabolism and transcriptome in developmental paths differentiation of a homokaryotic Coprinopsis cinerea strain. Fungal Genetics and Biology 143: 103432.
- Nong W, Cao J, Li Y, Qu Z, Sun J, Swale T, Yip HY, Qian PY, Qiu JW, Kwan HS, Bendena W. 2020. Jellyfish genomes reveal distinct homeobox gene clusters and conservation of small RNA processing. Nature communications 11:1-11.
- Lau AY, Xie Y, Cheung MK, Cheung PC, Kwan HS. 2020. Genome-wide mRNA and miRNA analysis in the early stages of germ tube outgrowth in Coprinopsis cinerea. Fungal Genetics and Biology 142: 103416.
Research Grants
- 2011-2013, Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), First-stage development of platform for authentication of dried seafood and tonic food products, $2,999,959
- 2011-2012, Knowledge Transfer Project Fund, Virtual dietician at 1 touch - develop an apple application on the 1st Hong Kong commonly used food and ingredient database for portable handheld users, $200,000
- 2010-2012, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Genome sequencing and identification of microatellite markers in the Shitake mushroom Lentinula edodesfor biological studies and horticultural applications, $46,443
- 2010-2011, Food and Environmental Hygiene Dept, HKSAR Government, Provision of service for sampling and food preparation for the first Hong Kong total diet study, $1,238,320
- 2009, Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Genome sequencing of Lentinula edodes135, $150,000
- 2009-2011, Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID), Metagenomics of Tuberculosis infection in Hong Kong, $800,000
- 2008-2010, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Transciptome analysis of fruiting body initiation of the basidiomycete mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea, $38,680
- 2008-2010, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Transcriptome analysis of early sclerotium development in Coprinoprsis cinerea, $30,000
- 2008-2010, Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID), Complete genome analysis of drug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium TuberculosisBeijing family strains, $798,648
- 2008-2011, Research Grants Council (RGC) General Research Fund, Transcriptome and gene functions analyses of mushroom fruiting body development in Coprinopsis Cinereaby 5' SAGE, RNAi silencing, immunostaining and microscopy, $1,001,887
- 2008-2010, Innovation & Technology Commission-Innovation and Technology Support Programme, A yeast expression system for the commercial production of recombinant ligninolytic enzymes from edible Shiitake mushrooms, $874,875
- 2008-2011, Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID) Commissioned Grant, First-stage development of a comprehensive genome sequence database for the identification of foodborne pathogens in Hong Kong, $6,176,045
- 2008-2013, Focused Investments Scheme of CUHK, Establishment of the Centre for Microbial Genomics and Proteomics, $10,000,000
- 2008-2010, Focused Investments Scheme of CUHK, Hong Kong Bioinformatics Centre, $1,508,000
- 2008-2009, Government Laboratory, HKSAR Government, Amplicon DNA library preparation and sequencing for 2 samples, $49,000
- 2007-2010, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants,Role of the brownish shiitake mycelia exudate on the cell death of Leukemia cell line and its role as an antioxidant and a functional food colorant, $920,500
- 2007-2009, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Molecular population structure of squaretail coral grouper in the Indo-Pacific, $38,680
- 2007-2009, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Isolation and in silico analysis of promoters from Shiitake Mushroom Lentinula edodes, $39,000
- 2007-2009, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Gene expression studies on different development stages of a novel fungus, Pleurotus Tuber-regium, $80,000
- 2007-2008, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Mechanism of immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of structurally characterized mushroom sclerotial ß-glucans: cell surface receptor and cell signaling, $38,680
- 2006-2007, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Mechanism of immunomodulatory and antitumor activity of structurally characterized Mushroom sclerotial ß-glucans: cell surface receptor and cell signaling, $39,000
- 2006-2007, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on three selected herbs, namely Cortex mori, Cortex eucommiae, and Fructus evodiae, $1,280,000
- 2006-2007, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department, HKSAR Government, Genetic diversity analysis of Cuora trifasciata and its allied species using microsatellite markers developed from Mauremys rivulata, $50,000
- 2006-2011, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust - Chief Executive Community Project List 2006,Construction of food composition database, $17,770,000
- 2006-2008, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Isolation, characterization and application of conditionally expressed promoters from Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $54,125
- 2005-2008, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants,Mushroom non-digestible carbohydrates as novel β-glucan type prebiotics: their preparation and in vitro microbial fermentation, $718,957
- 2005-2007, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Genes and molecular markers involved in the control of erect flag leaf in rice, $54,735
- 2005, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Dept, HKSAR Government, DNA sequencing and genetics diversity analysis, $50,000
- 2004-2005, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Rhizoma Cimicifugae, $381,350
- 2004-2005, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Radix Paeoniae alba, $381,350
- 2004-2005, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Radix Aucklandiae, $381,350
- 2004-2005, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Radix Paeoniae rubra, $381,350
- 2003-2007, Research Grants Council (RGC) Earmarked Grants,Gene expression during ovarian maturation in penaeid shrimp, $1,697,600
- 2003-2005, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Identification of genes related to selected agronomic traits of Shiitake mushroom, $22,157
- 2002-2004, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Molecular authentication of traditional Chinese medicinal plants, $29,612
- 2002-2003, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Cortex Phellodentri, $388,700
- 2002-2003, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory, work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Rhizoma Alismatis (Alisma orientalis(Sam.) Juzep.), $388,700
- 2002-2003, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory, work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Cortex Moutan (Paeonia suffruticosaAndr.), $388,700
- 2002-2003, Dept of Health, HKSAR Government, Research and laboratory, work on the Chinese medicinal herb, namely Radix Astragali, $388,700
- 2001-2004, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Identification and characterization of genes differentially expressed in dikaryotic mycelium of Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodesby cDNA microarray hybridization, $771,100
- 2001-2003, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Isolation and differential expression analysis of hydrophobin genes of Shitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $20,207
- 2000-2006, University Grants Committee - Areas of Excellence (AoE), UGC-AoE plant and fungal biotechnology project, $38,823,000
- 2000-2002, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Analysis of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades isolated during fruit body development of Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodesusing yeast two-hybrid system, $100,000
- 1999-2003, CUHK Strategic Research Program, Germplasm bank, chemical and molecular characterization of Chinese medicinal plants commonly used in Hong Kong, $500,000
- 1998-2001, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Elucidation of gene expression profiles during fruit body development of Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodesusing expressed sequence tags and serial analysis of gene expression, $600,000
- 1998-2001, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Development of molecular markers for genome napping in penaeid shrimp, $600,000
- 1998-2000, Industrial Support Fund, Industry & Technology Development Council, Development of over-the-counter pharmaceutical products based on local medicinal plants, $8,128,000
- 1997-2000, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Yeast complementation analyses of signal transduction genes isolated from early fruit body development of Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $780,840
- 1997-2000, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Molecular studies on shellfish allergens: cloning, sequencing, expression and immunological responses, $686,880
- 1996-1999, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Development of a species genetic linkage map of the Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodeswith sequence-tagged-site, expressed-sequence-tag, and gene markers, $692,000
- 1996-1997, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Molecular analysis of anaerobic ribonucleotide reductase, nrdD, in Salmonella typhimurium, $40,000
- 1995-1997, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Molecular cloning and time course studies of genes specially expressed during fruit body development in Shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $713,000
- 1995-1996, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Molecular cloning of genes specifically expressed in dikaryon of shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodesby RNA fingerprinting with arbitrarily primed polymerase reaction, $30,250
- 1994-1997, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Identification and molecular cloning of differentially expressed genes involved in lignocellulose utilization in shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $583,000
- 1994-1996, The Croucher Foundation, Molecular cloning and expression of crustracean allergens, $600,000
- 1994-1995, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), A study on the post-harvest storage of straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, $38,000
- 1994-1995, UK/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme, the British Council, Regulation of cellulase genes in the oyster mushroom Pleurotus, $80,352
- 1993-1996, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Generation of molecular markers for construction of a genetic map, and characterization of genetic determinants of some phenotypic traits in the shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, $756,000
- 1993-1994, The Croucher Foundation, Developing a gene transfer system for Pleurotusand its application by controlled expression of cellulase genes, for the improved utilization of cellulosic wastes for mushroom production, $35,000
- 1993, FAO of United Nations, Draft proposal for support to inter-country ad hoc meeting on collaborative mushroom research and development, $78,000
- 1992-1994, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Cloning of DNA coding for shrimp allergens, $100,000
- 1991-1992, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Integrative biotechnological development of edible mushrooms as health food, $45,000
- 1990-1993, The Croucher Foundation, Establishment of the genomic library, linkage map and germplasm bank for Lentinula edodes, $627,000
- 1989-1993, United College Endowment Fund, CUHK, Electrophoretic karyotype analysis for mushroom species, Coprinus cinereus, Pleurotus ostreatus, Schizophyllum commune, and Lentinus edodes, $20,000
- 1989-1992, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Ethanol production by anaerobic fermentation in genetically manipulated terrestrial and marine enteric bacteria, $250,000
- 1989-1992, The Croucher Foundation, Sequencing of the adhR gene, $60,000
- 1989-1990, CUHK Research Committee Funding (Direct Grants), Development of the molecular biological technique single primer polymerase chain reaction, $40,000
- 1988-1991, Research Grants Council (Earmarked Grants), Removal of heavy metals from wastewater by immobilized microbial cells, $500,000
Teaching Development Grant (教學方面) - 2008-2011, Quality Education Fund, HKSAR Government, The development of student-oriented teaching and learning resources in science and a science enrichment programme for secondary 3-4 Students, $ 3,500,000
- 2008, Education Bureau, Teacher Professional Development Programme- knowledge enriching series for new senior secondary technology and living: food science and technology strand, $1,280,000
- 2007-2008, Education and Manpower Bureau, HKSAR Government, Development of learning and teaching resource packages for the new senior secondary "Technology and Living" curriculum, $600,000
- 2006-2008, Quality Education Fund, HKSAR Government, A science enrichment programme for secondary 3-4 Students, $2,000,000
- 2006-2008, UGC-funded Teaching Development Grant, Promoting the use of the outcome-based approach in science programmes: Development of learning outcome statements and measurement instruments, $800,000
- 2005-2007,CUHK Teaching Development Grant, Engaging science students in the design and enactment of assessment, $160,000
- 2004-2006, Quality Education Fund, HKSAR Government, Case-based learning of high school science subjects to support learning to learn, $2,820,000
Patents
- Authenification of biologic materials using DNA-DNA hybridization on a solid support (principal investigator) (US patent #7297490, 2008)
Professional Activities
Membership in the following Professional Organizations:
Hong Kong Society of Microbiology (1984-1995)
American Society for Microbiology (1982-present)
American Association for Advancement of Science (1982-present)
World Society of Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products (1993-1995)
Genetic Society of America (2007-present)
Coprinopsis cinereaGenome Consortium (2006-present)
Others
I have been very active in research. My research concentrates on the application of molecular biological technology in the studies of basic and applied biological problems. For all my years in CUHK, I have been a major source of molecular technology in the Biology Department, the Science Faculty and CUHK as a whole. Since 1993, the Biology Department has placed great emphasis in molecular biology and biotechnology leading to our success in the granting of an area of excellence in “Plant and Fungal Biotechnology”. I have been contributing to the development of CUHK in this direction persistently and consistently for a long time.
I have been very successful in applying molecular technology in many fields to provide pioneering results in these fields. Many of these research projects have been collaborations with other colleagues of the Biology Department or CUHK. These collaborations often led to technology transfer from my laboratory to the collaborators’ laboratories. My research interests are quite diverse but always incorporate the most recent and important research development:
- My group was the first group to perform polymerase chain reaction in Hong Kong, one of the first to sequence DNA, and the first to sequence genomes.
- I acquired the first genome sequencer and set up the genome sequencing service in Hong Kong.
- I have ample experience in collaborating with faculty members in many disciplines. My collaborators include people in our university, from Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chinese Medicine, Mathematics, Statistics, and Medicine.
- My collaboration in mushroom biology research includes laboratories in USA and China.
- I am part of a global consortium working on genomics of the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea.
- My research in mushroom biology has international standing, as attested by many invited talks in international conferences.
- The community recognizes me as an expert in food safety and quality assurance, as I am now chairing both the Food Safety Expert Committee of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Accreditation Advisory Board of Hong Kong Accreditation Service.
I have obtained, as principle investigator or co-investigator, over HK$103 million of external competitive research funding, HK$37m as PI and HK$66 as co-I. I have been a team member in many important projects including the Area of Excellence “Plant and Fungal Biotechnology”. I am leading several substantial research projects including a substantial project “Construction of Food Composition Database for Nutritional Labelling”, which would benefit many small and medium enterprises in the Hong Kong food industry, and “First-Stage Development of a Comprehensive Genome Sequence Database for the Identification of Foodborne Pathogens in Hong Kong”, a project supported by the Research Fund for Control of Infectious Diseases, Food and Health Bureau. The spectrum of my research covers fundamental to applied research, from genomics to chemical analysis. My publications in mushroom genetics and genomics are considered to be pioneering works in mycology.