Climate change is profoundly reshaping crop growth and productivity, posing increasing threats to yield stability and global food security. Sustainable agriculture depends on the complex interconnectivity and feedback regulation that allow plants to sense, respond, and adapt to changing environments. This communication occurs across multiple scales—from genes, proteins, and organelles within individual cells to interactions at the whole-plant and ecosystem levels.

Our research in Plant Cell and Agricultural Biology focuses on enhancing plant resilience under environmental stress, increasing the value of agricultural products, and developing innovative biotechnologies for crop improvement and plant-based bioreactors.

Key research approaches include:

• Multiscale cellular analysis – Combining advanced high-resolution microscopy, artificial intelligence, structural biology, omics technologies, and nanotechnology to reveal protein functions and cellular architectures in different plant cell types under stress.
• Single-cell and spatial omics – Applying epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics at single-cell resolution to decode the signaling networks that underpin plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
• Agricultural landscape genomics – Investigating plant–environment interactions at the genomic scale to discover adaptive traits and guide precision breeding through genetic engineering.

Through these integrated approaches, we aim to generate fundamental knowledge and practical solutions that support sustainable agriculture, strengthen global food security, and harness plant systems for innovative applications.

Structural biology and protein science sit at the heart of modern life sciences—turning genomic blueprints into a mechanistic understanding of how cells work and how diseases arise. By revealing how proteins are built, interact, and carry out their functions, these fields illuminate pathways we can target to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. With powerful advances in structural biology techniques and AI-driven modeling, this is a moment of unprecedented opportunity to see biology in action and translate structure into function.

Our research integrates high-resolution structural biology, advanced computational methods, and chemical biology to drive transformative scientific discoveries. We leverage cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography, to visualize intricate biomolecular assemblies at atomic resolution. These techniques anchor our investigations into the structure and function of proteins and biomacromolecules critical to cellular signaling, pathogenic microorganisms, and biotechnological innovation.  Beyond elucidating fundamental biological processes, we couple structural insights with chemical biology approaches to design targeted inhibitors and modulators for biomacromolecules, while integrating computational modeling with experimental validation to optimize selective and highly efficacious potential therapeutics. Through collaborative efforts, we seek to translate these discoveries into innovative therapies for cancer, neurodegeneration, and infectious diseases, thereby addressing critical global health challenges while simultaneously advancing the frontiers of structural biology and protein science.

Our research in Neuroscience and stem cell biology is dedicated to a comprehensive, multi-scale investigation of the brain, spanning from fundamental neurobiology to therapeutic innovation. Our research addresses a broad spectrum of neurological challenges, from neurodevelopmental disorders and rare diseases to age-related neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. We are committed to defining the mechanistic links between lifestyle, metabolism, and brain aging to inform effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Our work is anchored in the detailed dissection of pathogenic mechanisms, where we investigate core cellular processes such as the neurobiology of aging and the mammalian cerebellum development & degeneration. We employ cellular, genetic, and biochemical analyses to understand RNA and protein toxicity and the role of protein kinases in both neurodevelopmental alterations and neurodegenerative disorders. This foundational research into neuronal senescence and brain aging provides the critical targets for our therapeutic platforms.

A central pillar of our strategy is the use of human stem cells and their neuronal and cardiac derivatives. We leverage embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create sophisticated human-relevant models of disease. These models are used to unravel metabolic changes in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and to explore the interconnected realms of vascular and metabolic biology that link brain and heart health, informing parallel research in cardiovascular regeneration.

This integrated discovery pipeline directly fuels our robust therapeutic intervention programs. We possess unique expertise in drug discovery for rare neurological diseases and develop inhibitors to combat neurodegenerative diseases through high-throughput screening of small molecules and biologics using our stem cell-derived phenotypic assays. The ultimate efficacy of any candidate therapeutic is rigorously validated through systems neuroscience research, ensuring interventions can restore functional neural circuitry.

In summary, our theme is defined by a unique synergy between depth and breadth. We seamlessly connect pioneering basic science with advanced stem cell technology, metabolic analysis, and robust translational drug discovery strategies. This positions us at the forefront of creating meaningful interventions, from preventative public health measures and novel drugs to target the core mechanisms of neurological diseases.

Currently, our society faces a growing global challenge from chronic, non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, many of which lack specific therapeutic strategies. While a healthy diet is widely recognized as fundamental to managing these conditions, the definition of “healthy” remains debated. The World Health Organization recommends diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, yet the specific functional ingredients in these foods—and how they alleviate these diseases, either individually or synergistically—remain poorly understood. Identifying these key components and their therapeutic mechanisms is vital for public health, as it could help affected individuals optimize dietary choices for therapeutic benefit. At CUHK, our Food & Nutritional Science program aims to translate diet into medicine by addressing following issues: (1) understanding the fundamentals of starch/non-starch polysaccharides’ structures, their specific interactions with other food ingredients during industrial processing, human gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation, and consequential impact on human health; (2) applying starch and non-starch polysaccharides as novel carriers for targeted drug delivery; (3) exploring fat and cholesterol in vivo metabolism, and their roles in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases; (4) studying the biology of embryonic stem cells and their cardiac derivatives for regenerative medicine applications; (5) exploring mechanisms underlying vascular health and systemic metabolism; (6) investigating how peripheral metabolic status influences brain aging and vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Genomics and bioinformatics have become indispensable tools across all fields of the biological sciences. At our School, researchers explore life from the smallest microbes to complex animals and plants, uncovering the extraordinary biodiversity found in environments from agricultural soils to marine ecosystems. Their work reveals how organisms adapt, interact, and sustain healthy ecosystems. In parallel, genomics and epigenomics studies investigate how gene activity is regulated through chemical and structural changes to DNA, influencing traits such as growth, resilience to environmental stress, and susceptibility to disease. By integrating high-throughput sequencing with advanced computational analyses, our researchers expand understanding of life’s fundamental mechanisms while applying these insights to pressing global challenges. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, their discoveries are helping to develop sustainable farming practices, improve food security, conserve biodiversity, and guide strategies for environmental protection and human health.

Biodiversity and sustainable development are intrinsically linked, representing major area of concern globally. Our research in Biodiversity and Conservation seeks to uncover the current status of biodiversity, its evolutionary dynamics, and strategies for long-term preservation amid environmental pressures such as climate change and habitat loss. Key research areas encompass innovative approaches to ecosystem resilience, covering various habitats from terrestrial to marine realm. For instance, multi-disciplinary research on coral biology encompassing host-symbiont interaction, larval development, adult physiology, and omics has advanced our understanding on coral response to marine heat waves and anthropogenic disturbance, with a major achievement in developing probiotics to enhance the thermal tolerance of hard coral species, thereby facilitating the restoration and resilience of coral communities in the warming oceans. Additionally, our investigations into mangrove forests highlight their role as vital blue carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric CO2 to mitigate global climate change. We explore the evolutionary adaptations and ecological functions of mangrove herbivorous crabs, which sustain healthy ecosystem dynamics by regulating nutrient cycles and promoting forest regeneration. Research on heavy metal pollution examines its impacts on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including biological responses such as bioaccumulation in organisms and adaptive mechanisms in affected species. Building on these findings, we promote research sustainability through knowledge transfer initiatives, including citizen science programs and educational outreaching. By engaging local communities in monitoring projects and workshops, we aim to translate scientific insights into social impact, fostering public awareness and policy advocacy for biodiversity conservation in Hong Kong and beyond.