RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme

Biography

Chair Professor in Department of Neuroscience at City University of Hong Kong
Research interest combines electrophysiological, optogenetic, anatomical, behavioural, pharmacological and molecular methods to answer fundamental questions in hearing, learning and memory
SRFS project — to use electrophysiological, optogenetic, anatomical and behavioural experiments to explore how the prefrontal cortex facilitates the neuroplastic changes in the auditory cortex through the medial temporal lobe
Awards and Honours:
- RGC Senior Research Fellow (2023)
- Inaugural Chair of new Gordon Research Conference series on Neuroplasticity of Sensory Systems (2018)
- Croucher Senior Research Fellowship (2009)

Project Title

The Medial Prefrontal Cortex Facilitates Learning and Memory in the Auditory Cortex through the Medial Temporal Lobe

Award Citation

RGC Senior Research Fellow Scheme has been regarded as one of the most respected recognitions in Hong Kong. I feel thrilled to be one of the awardees this year.

The support of the Fellowship Scheme would greatly facilitate the progress of our basic research. Our lab has been successful in translational research after we have identified a novel target; we have our drug candidates for amblyopia, tinnitus and depression in the Investigational New Drug stage. Still, basic research is the foundation for discovering new druggable targets. Specifically, we are researching how attention facilitates remembering. The prefrontal cortex is a high cognitive centre related to short-term memory and attention. We predict that the prefrontal cortex indirectly facilitates cortical memory encoding through the medial temporal lobe to release memory encoding-switch chemical CCK in the cortices. As the potential significance, this project may lead us to find crucial links between the neuronal circuits and autism or learning difficulty, the primary symptom in attention-deficient children.

The key element for young researchers to succeed is their enthusiasm. Persistent enthusiasm comes from the societal relevances of our long-term goals of scientific research interests. Our team have several drug candidates for brain disorders. The success of those drug candidates will enormously enhance the confidence of our young team members. Lastly, I appreciate RGC's support of the project and my research career in Hong Kong.