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
科研發現
科大突破性發現罕見腫瘤細胞「間諜」 揭示不為人知的癌細胞
香港科技大學（科大）研究人員研發了一種可為冷凍和新鮮細胞組織樣本同時進行單細胞DNA和RNA測序的新技術，更利用這方法識別出偽裝為正常細胞的罕見腦腫瘤細胞「間諜」。是次發現為一些最複雜和罕見腫瘤的研究帶來突破，並為未來的藥物靶標發現開闢新方向。
解構秀麗隱桿線蟲pri-miRNA加工複合體的分子機制
小分子核糖核酸（microRNAs，以下簡稱miRNAs）是一種在動物和人類基因調控中發揮重要作用的小型核糖核酸(RNA)，一直令許多科學家為之著迷。在生物學和醫學中，一項非常重要的研究範疇就是miRNA如何控制和調節基因表達，因為科學界一般相信，這個課題對理解細胞突變有重大作用，對於治療癌症和其他與細胞突變有關的疾病，至為關鍵。