A Stem Cell Approach to Dissect the Molecular Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases (PC: Prof. Nancy IP; Deputy PC: Prof. Zhenguo WU; Co-PIs: Profs. Tom CHEUNG, Amy K. T. FU, Kwok On LAI, Robert Z. QI, Jianan QU, Zilong WEN, Yung Hou WONG, Jun XIA, Wing Ho YUNG, Mingjie ZHANG; Co-investigators: Kenny CHUNG, Bo FENG, Jufang HE, Xuhui HUANG, Karl TSIM) A cross-institutional research project led by HKUST was awarded HK$31.2 million in 2018 to develop new and innovative therapies for the treatment of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) project aims to dissect the pathological mechanism underlying AD using state-of-the-art iPSC-derived platforms and CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing technologies. The project builds upon a previous TRS-funded research project that identified regulatory mechanisms for the differentiation and proliferation of neural stem cells. To date, 94 publications have resulted, pushing our understanding of the disease forward. The project aims to bring us closer to the development of novel therapies, including personalized medicine, that can ameliorate or even reverse the devastating effects of AD, improving the quality of life for those affected. Molecular Regulation of Quiescence and Early Activation in Muscle Stem Cells (PM: Prof. Zhenguo WU) In vertebrates, adult muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) are crucial for muscle regeneration after injury, starting from a quiescent state to re-entering the cell cycle to differentiate and repair the damaged muscle. The transition from quiescent MuSCs to cycling myoblasts is tightly regulated, and dysregulation during this period can result in severe muscle regeneration defects. The mechanisms of this transition are not yet understood. This research project proposes to use mouse models to investigate the molecular, cellular, and mouse-based mechanisms that regulate the transition of adult quiescent MuSCs to cycling myoblasts upon muscle injury. The results of this study could lead to a better understanding of the regulation of MuSC and help develop MuSC-based regenerative medicine for muscle diseases, including muscle atrophy (e.g. sarcopenia) in the elderly. 17
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