STEM CELL RESEARCH Axonal Regeneration and Rewiring in Adult Central Nervous System (PI: Prof. Kai LIU) Neurotrauma, such as brain or spinal cord injury, can cause neurological deficits due to limited functional recovery caused by a lack of successful axonal regeneration and rewiring. This Collaborative Research Fund project aims to use a newly established optic tract lesion model to study functional reconnection. Prof. Kai Liu and his team plan to use a novel combination strategy to boost the intrinsic growth capacity of retinal ganglion cells to regenerate retinal axons across the optic tract lesion site, reinnervate target neurons in the brain, and restore light reflex. The goal is to enhance functional recovery and understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying axon regeneration and functional rewiring. Successful completion of this project will help establish strategies to rebuild disconnected neural circuits after brain injuries and improve understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that mediate functional reconnection after central nervous system injuries. Stem Cell-niche Interactions in Tissue Maintenance and Engineering (PM: Prof. Ting XIE) Stem cells can replicate and differentiate into specialized cells, supporting normal development and maintaining tissue homeostasis in adults. They serve as potential treatments for degenerative diseases, cancer, and age-related deterioration. Combining stem cells with biomaterial scaffolds, transplantable tissues or organs can be generated to treat degenerative diseases. However, the regulation of stem cell activities inside intact tissues is not well understood, hindering the full potential of stem cell therapy. This Theme-based Research Scheme project aims to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell maintenance and differentiation, along with aging in model organisms like Drosophila, zebrafish, and mice. A team of investigators from HKUST, HKU, and CUHK will study how the microenvironment controls stem cell behaviors and functions using advanced genomic, genetic, molecular, biochemical, and developmental approaches. 16
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk5Njg=