Neurotrauma such as brain or spinal cord injury leads to devastating and persistent neurological deficits. One of the major reasons for the limited functional recovery is the lack of successful axonal regeneration and rewiring.
In this CRF project, we aim to use a newly-established intracranial optic tract lesion model to study the functional reconnection. With a novel combination strategy to boost the intrinsic growth capacity of retinal ganglion cells, we will drive retinal axons to regenerate across the optic tract lesion site, reinnervate the target neurons in the brain, and restore the light reflex.
Our goal is to enhance the functional recovery and understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the robust axon regeneration and functional rewiring. Successful completion of this project will establish strategies to rebuild disconnected neural circuits after injuries within the brain, and help our understanding on the fundamental mechanisms that mediate functional reconnection after central nervous system injuries.
Enhancing neuronal activity by overexpressing melanopsin promotes the regeneration of retinal axons
科研发现
科大突破性发现罕见肿瘤细胞「间谍」 揭示不为人知的癌细胞
香港科技大学（科大）研究人员研发了一种可为冷冻和新鲜细胞组织样本同时进行单细胞DNA和RNA测序的新技术，更利用这方法识别出伪装为正常细胞的罕见脑肿瘤细胞「间谍」。是次发现为一些最复杂和罕见肿瘤的研究带来突破，并为未来的药物靶标发现开辟新方向。
解构秀丽隐杆线虫pri-miRNA加工复合体的分子机制
小分子核糖核酸（microRNAs，以下简称miRNAs）是一种在动物和人类基因调控中发挥重要作用的小型核糖核酸(RNA)，一直令许多科学家为之着迷。在生物学和医学中，一項非常重要的研究范畴就是miRNA如何控制和调节基因表达，因为科学界一般相信，这个课题对理解细胞突变有重大作用，对於治疗癌症和其他与细胞突变有关的疾病，至为关键。