Stem cell-cardiomyocytes
Research Interests
- Stem cell cardiac biology
- Cardiotoxicity induced by anti-cancer and anti-viral treatment
- Mitochondria and metabolism
- Precision medicine: using patient specific cardiomyocytes to investigate cardiac disorders
- Omics technology for cardiac maturation and disease modelling
Description of research topics and on-going research
Our research focuses on the application of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes for disease modelling and drug screening. Immaturity of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes has long been a barrier to the use of these cells for research and therapy. Combining transcriptomic, proteomic and microRNA profiling, we revealed novel regulatory mechanisms that facilitate the generation of cardiomyocytes with adult-like mitochondrial and metabolic properties.
Our current research focus is to utilise our cardiomyocyte platform for the modelling of human cardiac diseases. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the pathogenesis of cardiotoxicity induced by antic-cancer and anti-viral treatment, and the identification of cardioprotective strategies against these disorders.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Ellen Poon
- Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, CUHK
- Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE)
- Faculty of Medicine, CUHK
Research Team Member:
- Dr. BinBin Wu, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Dr. Maxwell Kwok, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Ms. Chloe Ma, RPG student
- Mr. Andy Lam, RPG student
- Mr. Jack Chen, RPG student
- Ms. Yixin Zhang, RPG student
Related Publications:
Selected Publications
- Mok B, Kwok M, Li HS, Ling L, Lai A, Yan B, Yeung CH, Zhang AJ, Tam RC, Kukic A, Cremin CJ, Zhang Y, Long T, Kang Z, Luo R, Leung KT, Li AM, Lui G, Chan JF, To KKW, Chan PKS, Yan BP, Chen H, Poon E*. SARS-CoV-2 variants divergently infect and damage cardiomyocytes. Cell Biosci. 2024 Aug 2;14(1):101
- Li S, Yan B, Wu B, Su J, Lu J, Lam TW, Boheler KR, Poon E*, Luo R. Integrated modeling framework reveals co-regulation of transcription factors, miRNAs and lncRNAs on cardiac developmental dynamics. Stem cell research & therapy, 2023 Sep 13;14(1):247
- Wu SCM, Zhu M, Chik SCC, Kwok M, Javed A, Law L, Chan S, Boheler KR, Liu YP, Chan GCF, Poon E*. Adipose tissue-derived human mesenchymal stromal cells can better suppress complement lysis, engraft and inhibit acute graft-versus-host disease in mice. Stem cell research & therapy. 2023;14:167. doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03380-x
- Kwok M, Lee C, Li HS, Deng R, Tsoi C, Ding Q, Tsang SY, Leung KT, Yan BP, Poon EN*. Remdesivir induces persistent mitochondrial and structural damage in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Cardiovasc Res. 2022;118:2652-2664. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvab311
- Poon E*, Luo XL, Webb SE, Yan B, Zhao R, Wu S, Yang Y, Zhang P, Bai H, Shao J, Chan CM, Chan GC, Tsang SY, Gundry RL, Yang HT, Boheler KR*, The Cell Surface Marker CD36 Selectively identifies Matured, Mitochondrial-rich hPSC-Cardiomyocytes. Cell Res. 2020 Jul;30(7):626-629
Opportunities
We are ready to provide hands on training which is a perfect transition stage to taste your own research experience. Do send us your CV and discuss your research career with us!
