As a Ph.D. student in molecular diagnostics, with a passion for Life Sciences and studying human diseases, I am truly honoured to receive support by the Croucher Foundation to be nominated to attend the Hong Kong Laureate Forum. Driven by my curiosity to explore different areas of Life Sciences, I have spent the eight years engaged in research in numerous fields, including genetics, neurodegeneration, virology, from research institutes around the world. I thoroughly enjoy learning from professors and scientists, as well as collaborating on new research. My passion for research is driven by my love for exploring new knowledge from research in molecular biology and tackling complex scientific questions. I aspire to make valuable scientific contributions that may translate to enhanced diagnosis or therapeutic interventions for patients. Attending scientific conferences, such as the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in 2023, has left a lasting impression on me, as I was deeply inspired by conversing with world-renowned professors, and discussing exciting scientific progress with students and scientists from around the world. I believe the Hong Kong Laureate Forum resonates well with my love for exploring new scientific paradigms and learning from remarkable scientists, and will surely be an inspiring experience to me.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

My current research focuses on molecular diagnostics, in particular, the study of circulating cell-free DNA and its vast utility. My doctoral research is supervised by Professor Dennis Y.M. Lo at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. My research primarily focuses on the biology of cell-free DNA, where I study the production and clearance mechanisms of cell-free DNA and how that may be associated with different diseases. Most recently, I have just published a paper related to the plasma cell-free DNA concentration in a large Hong Kong cohort, and explored its biological implications in DNA nucleases. I also study the mechanisms of different DNA nucleases by transgenic mouse models and in-vitro assays. Another key focus of my research is exploring the utility of employing cell-free DNA technologies in the context of neurological conditions, and whether it may provide novel diagnostic and prognostic insights which may be clinically important.

My publication list and details regarding my research background can be found in the attached resume.